Sigma Haul / Review

I was in no need for more make up brushes and had no reason behind placing this order except from the fact that they are too beautiful to not have in my collection. 

I thought id share this mini Sigma haul with you. 

E50:

If you're looking for a good brush to apply shadow really easily to your lid, I'd suggest you get Sigma E50. It's a bit larger than the E55, In my opinion, the best of the bunch. Large enough, sturdy enough, and you can pack enough shadow to it.

This is now my fave eye brush. For those of us that might just use an all-over the lid shade and run out the door, this is the perfect brush. It's big and fluffy and soft, but flattened a bit in a way where is just goes where you want it to.

This brush shed quite abit. I used my fingers to gently pinch at the bristles and about 5-6 strands came off. I repeat many times and it continues to shed!!! 

This is a very large, flat shader brush. It is fairly soft and when washing I didn't see any bleeding black ink. It is a versatile brush. I use it for a soft wash of colour on the lid or brow bone, putting powder under my eyes to set concealer, and applying highlighter on cheekbones. 

E20:

I wouldn't really describe this as a must-have brush, but it's still very nice for detailed work.

I use it for highlighting my browbone, applying eyeshadow on my bottom lashline or smudging eye pencil.

It's especially good for connecting the outer corner of my bottom and top lashline. My eye is rounded and I have long lashes so this can sometimes be a bit tricky because I can't see that outer part really well, but this brush helps make a precise line.

I've had it for a few months and washed it several times, both with soap and makeup remover, but no hairs fell out.

It's not the softest brush in the world, but I noticed no scratching or irritation whatsoever.

Also, it hasn't lost its shape at all.

All in all, I would recommend it to those who use a lot of eyeshadow and like more elaborate looks or do makeup on others.

As I said it's not an absolute must have for everyone, but I really enjoy using it and it has proved to be quite handy on a lot of occasions.

This is another amazing brush, It's great for blending in your upper and lower lash line, good for creating a smoky eyes without any messy fallout!

The Sigma 3DHD Kabuki and Precision Brushes are multi-functional tools invented by Sigma and engineered to perfection. The 3DHD Kabuki was uniquely designed for all areas of the face to apply liquid, cream and powder products uniformly on every curve, crease and angle; while the 3DHD Precision brush was uniquely designed for smaller areas of the face.

The point of the brush allows for precise application, which I think is awesome! If you need to get into the creases of your nose or just below the eyes and lips, the bristles are sure to get those hard to reach places. I like to get my foundation and concealer right up to the rim of my eye to cover up discoloration. This intense point allows me to do so. If you’re a makeup artist, its so easy to use on other clients, as without a precise brush, it can sometimes be a bit difficult with other brushes. While we always end up making it work, having a tool to make life easier is always great!

I can pretty much say the same thing about this brush that I did for the Kabuki. It’s rare that I use a brush to blend in my concealer, as I opt for a Beauty Blender, but again, if you really want to get close to the eye, it’s great. If you like creating those eye looks with a sharp edge, applying concealer with this brush just below the shadow is easy and you don’t have to worry about messing it up.  Furthermore, if you need to clean up around your lips if you have smudged your lipstick or need a sharper edge, it’s small, precise design makes it easy to achieve that look.

F92:

The Sigma Beauty Extravaganza Collection is a lavish assortment of one of a kind, brushes with 18K gold plated ferrules. The Extravaganza Face Kit features four unique brushes specially designed to deliver a luxurious makeup application

Blush - F92 Perfect for application of powder blush. Also ideal for shading and highlighting cheeks and face. Natural bristles.

Because it's flat, I can use this not just for applying a blush but also I can highlight with it. If you put it next to F95, you'll see that it's actually a very normal sized brush (F95 is huge). Again, the bristles are soft and I am glad it's not very dense. A dense brush tends to pick up too much of the product (especially when you're dealing with loose powder blush) and you can end up looking like a clown. I personally think a flat brush is better at applying a blusher compared to a round one because when your brush is flat, your application becomes easy and precise.

B05

There were a couple of times last summer after getting some sun that I needed to find an easy way to blend my foundation’s color with the color in my neck because it looked way lighter than my face. I looked at some videos in youtube an saw this particular brush which seemed to be exactly for this purpose . So, I decided to give it a try. I’d had a very good experience with this brand so far so I was hoping this would also be a good brush.

This is such a unique brush! First of all, the bristles are really soft even after a couple of washes. It doesn’t scratch my skin at all, which is great for sensitive areas like the neck. This Sigma Body Brush, like the name says, is perfect to apply products to the arms, shoulders, chest, legs… anywhere you can think of. My favorite use for it is to blend my foundation all over the neck and chest so that everything is even and the makeup looks polish. This brush has such a dense head. Because of its size if perfect to cover large body areas.

I haven’t used any other brush like this before, so I found it quite unique. The fact that it’s so soft, so dense and so big

make it ideal for blending any product, whether it’s a powder or a cream, specially in large areas like the chest and neck. If you are constantly getting a lot of sun and find yourself doing a lot of blending between your face and any other part of the body you may want to consider this brush. Otherwise I can’t think of any other way you could use this brush.

E25:

When placing my order with Sigma I had the option of choosing a free gift, I chose the E25 in a mini and I also purchased the full sized version. I had purchased this brush a while ago and ended up loosing it when I was on holiday, so it was only right for me to repurchase it. 

As the name states, this is a blending brush for eyeshadow but over the years, I’ve found that it does a lot more than just blend shadow.

If you don’t want your under eye concealer to look cakey, you can use a brush like this to apply the product. It gives a lighter coverage and a more diffused look to the skin. You’d be surprised you know. Natural hair really does apply cream and powder product better and more evenly to the skin, with a lighter more natural appearance. At least that’s my experience which is why I prefer using natural hair brushes.

This Sigma E25 Blending Brush has also been touted to be a dupe of the MAC 217 blending brush but as I do not have the MAC one I am unable to compare. I do have another 2 brushes that look the same in my stash so I’ll show them to you below.

All in all, I’d say that this is a good brush to have in your brush stash. It is multi-functional and performs well, plus holds up well to washing. I’ve had this one for a few years and the bristles still wash out fairly clean with just soap. I couldn’t complain really!

The E25  brush is a blending brush with white natural hair bristles. i personally find that the brush is quite dense, yet fluffy enough so you can use it to blend colours and edges. I personally use this brush to apply concealer under my eye area.  in my opinion it is a great multi purpose brush, great value for money. 

Have you tried any of these brushes? Are there any you'd recommend? 

Eman xoxo

Twitter: Emaninlalaland

Instagram: MissEmanQassem 

Mini Weekend Haul - Mac and H&M

My Mini Weekend Haul!

I simply can not go into a Mac counter and walk out empty handed, it would be rude  if i did..

I repurchased some items and also bagged some times I’ve been lusting over for a while. I also purchased a couple of fun T-Shirts from H&M that are simply beautiful and affordable. And here they are: 

Mac Matte lipstick in Yash 

A Neutral peach shade lipstick in a matte finish, The Texture is Smooth and creamy.

Mac Satin Lipstick in Twig (Repurchase) 

A soft brownish-pink shade, very opaque with a satin finish. This is a safe shade for me, compliments my olive toned skin, a sophisticated your lips but better lipstick. 

Mac Matte Lipstick in Sin (Repurchase) 

Hands down this has to be my fave vampy lipstick from MAC I've probably gone through about 5 of these.

A deep Burgundy shade with subtle brown undertones. A matte finish. One of Macs most popular lipsticks from there permanent range. 

Mac Satin Lipstick in Mocha 

I was on the look out for my new summer lipstick, i tend to always have one as a signature and this year its Mocha, I love love love the peachy brown tones to it. A full on opaque lipstick, can be drying However nothing applying lip balm underneath won’t solve. This shade is going to really complement a tan.. I can see it already. 

Mac Satin Lipstick in Cherish 

A creamy nude shade that glides on smoothly on the lips. It has a slight glossy sheen to it, Very pigmented. This is the kind of shade I like to wear with a smokey eye or heavy make up, its a subtle shade that can work with most make up looks id say, I love how it catches the light due to its slight gloss finish. For me this is a shade id like to wear for a casual evening look.

Mac Lip Pencil in Whirl (Repurchase- FINALLY they restocked it at Selfridges) 

I used to have a hate on hate relationship with Lip pencils/Lip liners; However the past two years or so I’ve kind off gone lip pencil crazy. 

Whirl is most probably the most wanted lip liner ever since Kylie Jenner introduced us to her signature lip combo   ( Whir Applied With Velvet Teddy matte  Lipstick - Mac ) 

Mac describe the shade to be as a Dirty Rose. It is a deep pink with brown undertones. I found that patinece is needed when applying Whirl as it is very dry. 

H&M Sequenced Pineapple T-Shirt (£12.99)

Im a sucker for a grey T-Shirt, However this time round it has a Pineapple on it! I love seeing Pineapples as it always reminds me of summer and happiness. I Love the texture of this t shirt very soft and doesn’t stick on to those unwanted places! I can really see my sell dressing this up and down for day time and evening looks. 

H&M Watermelon T-Shirt (£12.99)

My faviourte fruit, On a T-Shirt? Oh yes. I love love love Watermelons and may I add 99% of my wardrobe is black.. I tend to always grab anything i see in black first, a bad habit i know. Mum always tells me i should wear more colour however I just feel easy and comfortable in black, I should really get out of this habit. This is a cute, fun play on a classic plain black tee and I think i will wear this until its dying days.

Im usually a M in H&M However I purchased these T-Shirts in a L as I wanted to style them quite baggy and loose. I love these T-Shirts and think they are great for summer, Sequin motif T-Shirts and sweaters are everywhere right now and are going for a lot more than £12.99, hence why I had to purchase both, i always find with H&M its very hit and miss, so If I find myself unsure about an item,I tend to always buy it and later decide at home if i want to keep it or not, I hate living in regret! 

Have you tried any of these Mac products?  Let me know what you think of my fruity T-Shirts? 

Eman xoxo

Gerard Cosmetics - Review and Swatches

Today I’m going to be sharing with you my thoughts on the most talked about Gerard Cosmetics famous lipsticks! Their most desired shade is in 1995, It is actually a collaboration with world-famous makeup artist/Youtube guru Jaclyn Hill, and the CEO of Gerard Cosmetics, Jennifer Gerard.

1995 brings back the neutral brick classic brown lips that the supermodels wore in 1995.

At the moment I own 5 shades in their lipstick range; Underground, 1995,Buttercup,Nude and Berry smoothie.

I order from their USA website, however recently found out that  Cocktail Cosmetics online now carry GC  which means faster access for us in UK and Europe. (I’ve just placed another order to complete my collection!)

In terms of shade, Underground is a beautiful dirty pink with undertones of lilac and mild brown, 1995 is a light terracotta burnt brown with pink undertones, Buttercup is the sweetest baby pink shade. Nude to me is the perfect everyday shade, a more coral peachy tone nude, perfect for that golden summer look; And finally, Berry smoothie is exactly what the name says, its a juicy berry pink tone thats mild and sophisticated. 

With Flash ^ From Top to bottom, Underground, 1995, Buttercup,Nude and Berry Smoothie. 

Without Flash/Natural light ^ From Top to bottom, Underground, 1995, Buttercup,Nude and Berry smoothie. 

What I personally love about GC lipsticks about from the sleek, classy GOLD packaging is the formula.They do vary in finish however are all very pigmented and have amazing lasting power.

Texture wise, I found that 1995 Nude and Underground are more matte in comparison to Berry Smoothie and Buttercup, which  have a more creamy texture.

The matte lipsticks are not too overpowering which is great as they do not dry out my lips like others. I tend to always prep my lips before using matte lipsticks.I can go around 5 hours without any touch ups. Due to the creamy texture I found that Berry smoothie and buttercup did not last as well especially if I had been eating or drinking. from my experience, a second application made the colour last longer as they leave a slight stain behind as it starts to wear off and for this reason found it just works best second time round and really builds up the colour.

Out of the 5 lipsticks, Nude is my favourite; not only because Im a Nude lover yet simply due to its flexability of wear. I like to mix it with other shades and is the perfect base if you like to apply lipgloss on top of nude lippies like I do!

This may sound strange.. to me the lipsticks smell like Crayons.. odd i know, however i don’t really pick up any other scent notes other than a very faint touch of floral. its simply and not overpowering.

If you have not yet followed GC on social media, I advise you to do so; They often have flash sales on cosmetic bundles which often include free worldwide shipping.

Have you tried out Gerard Cosmetics yet? Whats your favourite? If you found this post useful don't forget to comment and share!

Eman xoxo

My Top Five nail polishes for summer! Review and swatches

Decisions, decisions, decisions, finding the right nail colour is difficult in itself, deciding which one to wear is even harder! I have a huge passion for nail varnish and have a huge collection to go with it! This review is not sponsored in any way and is simply my opinion on my top five polishes that I like to have on my fingertips in the summer when tanned!

P.S please excuse the messy manicures.

Essie:Allure

I think i’ve repurchased this bottle about 9 times so far? This is my go to colour.3- 4 light coats and I have achieved the perfect colour. Its a classic colour, you won’t go wrong with this one. It was actually created to act as a universal sheer which could work on any skin tone; and in my opinion I feel it does suits every skin tone as you can build out the colour or have it as light as you want. This polish is a silky sheer beige. Essie are used worldwide in a majority of small or big salons, they are known for their beautiful formulas and pay off.

Allure was even worn mixed with a pale pink by Kate Middleton during her royal wedding!

When tanned this colour looks AH-MAZING on. It's a game changer for sure, I could not do my top 5 nail colours for summer without including this, every time I have this on the compliments are never ending. (not that thats a bad thing :-p)

I myself know underneath what may look like a perfect manicure is tired brittle nails that tend to have discoloured, so for me 3-4 coats really goes a long way.

In the swatches I have used 4 thin coat, it evens out the colour of all my nails I am always very pleased with the results after applying this colour on my nails. very classy, neat and polished, non streaky sheer polish.

I can’t say enough about this polish except go go go and get your hands.. or should I say nails on one of these little bottles of joy!

Essie:Fiji

Another love affair with Essie.

I ADORE Essie polishes. no complaints ever. I have a nail polish hoarder problem going on, however I still manage to really spot out the ones I love, this colour is one that stands out in my collection ( maybe because I have about 8 of these bottles laying around i’m not sure!).  Fiji has the most beautiful stunning milky pink shade with a strong white undertone to it. 

The finish is very opaque and  creamy with no glitter or shimmers which is something I love in a polish. Essie polishes are known to have a very shiny finish however I still like to use top coats to give it a longer lifetime. Fiji gets compared to O.P.I Mod About You alot however I found that but Fiji is definitely more white toned and a lighter shade of pink. I prefer Fiji for sure. There’s a girly soft touch to Fiji, it is very feminine and classy. The perfect nude. Whenever I have used this when tanned it definitely enhancers the tan which is a bonus!

There have been some negative comments about the consistency of Fiji, However I have never found it a major issue, I always ensure I shake the bottle well before use, apply a thin latter, let it then then apply a thicker layer which helps prevent streaking.  Be patient! I love to apply a thin layer of Top-Coat on top of fiji to give it that extra kick!

DIOR:Rose Flamboyant / Blazing Pink

I know you maybe think this is quite a dark shade for summer Eman??? Dark shades can also be worn in summer and look good! especially ones with red undertones.

This Dior Venis polish in ‘Rose Flamboyant’ or also known as ‘Blazing Pink’ is a berry pink shade with vibrant red undertones.  I have stopped wearing the brights and neons for summer, who knows I may get back into them, it  really depends who what where and when, However lately I like to keep my nails very classic and simple shades that are versatile and don’t clash with what I wear.

I go for classic nudes or elegant berry/red tones and this is exactly that. This shade is not dark enough to be a winter tone for me yet light enough for that summer evening elegance. it is a very romantic shade and I adore it.

I love love love Dior polishes, they surprisingly have great colour pay off and las a good 5 days without chipping. I am so impressed with Diors shade range, I know there are not the most affordable polishes in the market, yet I happily re-purchased a range of colours from Dior as they worked so well and invested in timeless colours that can always be worn. I have not felt the need to wear a top coat with Dior polishes, and that for me speaks for itself.

In my swatches for this shade I used two coats only. pigmentation is to the fullest.

Essie:Lilacism

Why does Essie always do this for me ?? Or is it me doing it to myself?? that is the question…?

I tend to always gravitate towards the nudes in any nail polish counter displays. I was on the look out for a milky not to bright yet soft lilac; and then I found Lilacism.

It really was love at first sight. At first I was unsure if wearing lilac on my nails would look odd, however I was wrong… very wrong. I constantly wear this shade - not only in summer. Lilacism is a pretty pastel. the swatches of this shade really does not do it any justice, in person it is amazing. very light, dusty mild milk purple shade with blue undertones.

Again with all Essie polishes shiny finish is a bonus. Lilacism is very feminine indeed, its known that when tanned milky nudes encher your colour, however I found that Lilacism went that extra mile and I feel like it was due to the blue undertones? The colour payoff is stunning and looks so so good on golden skin.

In this swatch I used two coats only! pigmentation is great, definitely give the bottle a good shake as this is quite a watery formula that dries quickly.

I always get excited when I see this colour, especially if it has been a while since i’ve last  worn it.

O. P. I: Don't Bossa Nova Me Around

OPI Don’t Bossa Nova Me Around from the Brazil Collection is a great clean fresh shade. I recently ditched fun colours and have started to really appreciate natural nail looks as I grow older. They just have this was of making you (and your hands) look very lady like and elegant.

Its a bonus that nude shades will always match whatever colours of clothing you’re wearing.

In this swatch I used three thin layers to get full coverage on my nails. The polish itself is very creamy and easy to apply.The shade has just the perfect amount of pink without it being too girly. to me there seems to be a hint of purple in the undertones. And I think this is why it works well when I am tanned. I wouldn't state it was just another one of those boring nudes, its a mysterious shade, a clean cut fresh nude that overall works well.

I also found that it was not streaky at all which I love. No hassle. I cant explain this colour to the fullest and the way it deserves as the pictures don’t do a good job of sharing its beauty.

I know there are a million nudes out there; and believe me I have tried A LOT but this milky shade works well when tanned and I can’t quite put my finger on it or tell you why but it does. Youre going to have to try it out and let me know what you think!

Dont forget to share this post if you felt it was useful, What are your top 5 summer shades?

Eman xoxo

MY TOP TEN MAC LIPSTICKS - Review and Swatches.

Within my beautiful yet very large collection of Mac lipsticks I managed to pick out ten gems, it wasn’t easy and I actually struggled a lot, I kept asking myself why Eman, why have you put yourself through this! However I won the challenge and managed to pick out my top ten. I absolutely adore Mac lipsticks; this will probably never change.. but who said that was a bad thing?

Here Goes...These are in no particular order. I wouldnt want to go through even more torture.. i love them all!

Natural Lighting

With Flash

1: Politely pink

So just like you guys, I read reviews before buying most things (not everything of course!) when reading up on this colour It was said by many people that it worked better on people who already have quite pigmented lips, so I thought I’d give it a try as I do have a tint to my lips. As per usual, texture-wise politely pink is not the best on dry or chapped lips. it catches the light. Politely Pink is set in between ‘Please Me’ and ‘Snob’.  just enough to add a glow to your face but it’s still quite demure.

2:Creme d’nude

Creme d’Nude has pink undertones with a slightly more frost finish to it. This lippie is usually my go to with a smokey eye look. Its there but doesn’t take the attention away from your eyes.I must admit it can dry out not long after wear, nothing a lil bit of chapstick can’t sort.

3:Peach Blossom

Peach Blossom falls under Mac’s cremesheen collection, I love love love the lasting power of the cremations and tend to gravitate towards them whenever I’m around a Mac counter, they have a great balance of moisture and pigment. Theres not much to say about this one, As you can tell the colour has peach tone, It’s a kind of your lips but - peachier. love wearing this in summer, looks great with a tan!

4:Angel

Again Angel has a frost finish, it is a soft pink. The application comes on sheer upon the first swipe, the colour is buildable with a opaque finish. . This is known to be one of Mac’s best selling colour and I’m not surprised at all. it is the perfect everyday your lips but better shade. I love to pair this colour with a light nude/clear gloss..beautiful!  Angel is constantly being compared next to Mac’s Creme Cup, I must admit, it’s a close call, Angel shows to have a tiny touch of lilac and slightly brighter.

5:PLEASE ME

Slightly matte with a sheen yellow toned pink, I usually get a solid 4-5 hours of wear time with this colour. Its a funny colour that looks different on just about everyone. On me it's a subtle muted, toned-down pink. we all have those days when you don’t want to look dolled up or heavy handed with the make up, please me is great for that perfect girl next door pout.

6:Honey Love

If you’re looking for the perfect beige, then this is the one. Love honey is right up my street, it is a beautiful beige with specs of pink. It is purely an opaque shade. you can’t ask for better colour payoff. I find it tricky to find a beige shade that does not bleed and this one took me by surprise. 10 out of 10 for sure. perfect for them summer nights. glides on buttery, Matte texture with no shimmers (love the idea of that). I found the lasting power was not the best, 3-4 max…on me anyway. I say this is a works best with a full on make up look and really complements dark eye looks the best.

7:MEHR

After several attempts..finally managed to get my hands on Mehr.  is best described as a dirty, pink with a blue undertone  it is definitely a cool-toned colour. This is one of my newest additions to my mac lipstick collection and i have not let me out of my sight. I love an all-rounder lipstick and that’s what Meh is, I can wear it with anything, it is of a matte finish however its application is great, it slides smoothly on the lips even without lip balm on, very lips creamy then settles to a matte finish.

8:Velvet teddy

I’ve found the one.Ted, Ted, Tedddyyyy. why do I love you so. this is probably the most wanted Mac lipstick ever… Thanks to Kylie Jenner! This was the game changer of all lipsticks for me. It is a matte warm,  nude with a beautiful brown undertone. My go to colours are always nude shades and this to me is the Cherry on top.. of my very big lipstick cake.

In my opinion velvet teddy is not a particularly cool or warm tone. I personally don't use this colour with a lip liner, Honestly I think it works perfectly on its own. I can’t say enough about this lipstick as it speaks for itself, it is beautiful no wonder I always have to go through a goose chase to get hold of one; the only down point is that it is always sold out!

9:Rebel

If I had to choose one colour for life, it would be Rebel. it is a gorgeous gorgeous, tasty dark berry. You can build the darkness of the colour by applying more. It is very cool and blue-based, which I love as it does a great job of making my teeth look whiter than they actually are. As you can tell cool tone lipsticks are the ones for me.

When applying this lipstick do ensure your lips are not dry or cracked, work in that lip scrub and apply some balm and you’re good to go! Rebel has a satin finish. slightly matte with a slight sheen. It doesn’t have the best lasting power, intact probably one of the worst out of the bunch. it has a tendency to mark or stain anything you touch, which is normal for such a bold colour. so watch out!

10:RIRI WOO

ooo one of Mac’s most talked about lipsticks! Riri woo is a retro matte texture and yes it has Rihanna’s name on it but no its not any different to their other matte lipsticks. in general I do not have dry lips, but this does dry out my lips, quite quick after application - wearing a thin layer of Vaseline under this one is a must for me. the colour payoff and pigmentation is a eye-catcher. wow is all I can say on this one. I like to build up the colour as i find one swipe doesn’t do it for me. Loved it so much I had to grab 3 for backups! - Very flattering shade for many different skin tones.

A girl can never have too many lipsticks..Who agrees? Tell me your top ten.

Please share if you liked this post or found it useful! 

Eman xoxo