High Street Highlight | The Balm Mary LouManizer Highlighter Review

*Health and safety disclaimer: sunglasses must be worn at all times during the reading of this post to prevent premature blindness and bedazzlement *

Who doesn't want to watch their enemies negativity bounce off of their highlight and blind them right in their eyeballs in this modern age? Who doesn't want to look like a chic C3PO or like the lost member of Daft Punk these days? Nobody. Nobody that's who. But I can tell you what nobody really wants and that's to shell out £££s for an expensive highlighter only for it to hit pan quickly, crack under clumsy hands, run out in days or generally be ill fitting when you get home. So today I wanted to share with you a highlighter I have discovered (with the help of some famous tubers) and have been love, love, loving recently and the best part? You can pick it up right now in your local Superdrug, I'm talking about the Mary LouManizer Highlight by The Balm cosmetics.

I always looked at The Balm as a cheap and nasty version of Benefit Cosmetics, I mean why buy that when I can just pop to Debenhams and buy the real thing right? But boy was I wrong! The Balm have been around for a good long while now but are only now beginning to get the recognition they deserve as a stand alone brand. Their packaging is vintage 1950s inspired which I love but let's face it, we're not here for cute packaging now are we? I decided to pick up my first purchase from the Balm a few weeks ago when Jamie Genevieve recommended one of their bronzing powders on her channel (Bahama Mama) but things were about to get real when I watched Jeffree Star's high street highlighter video and I was put on to the Mary LouManizer Highlight.

The highlight itself comes in a gorgeous sturdy compact with a small mirror inside (how chic is that?!) and has a cute pin up girl getting her mugshot on the outside (classy bird) Online it has been widely described as a honey huded illuminator that catches the eye. What I personally would describe it as is PERFECTION. Nah I'm kidding, I would say it gives you the appearance of an inner glow or a subtle 'candle lit' effect on the skin, but I suppose depending on how intense you like your highlight and the shade of your skin it will perhaps have a different effect, but for us pale girls I'd say it's a must have. Since using this I have had so many compliments on my skins glow and how much colour it has added to my face, I apply this using a fan brush on my cheekbones and temples (or at least where I WOULD have cheekbones if I weren't so fond of pizza and doughnuts) on my upper lip using my finger and on the tip of my nose (subtly) For my contour I'll use my favourite new brozing powder Bahama Mama and after a good whack with my beauty blender and some Fix + I'm good to go!

This highlighter retails at £17.49 in Superdrug but you can also purchase it online from places like ASOS, I personally think this is a great price for the sheer amount of product you get as well as the quality of the product, it's so buttery and easy to apply and looks so natural (not drying or chalky in the SLIGHTEST) I implore you glow babies out there do go in and at the VERY least give this gal a swatch!

You can take your shades off now glow babies as we're coming to the end of the ride! If you have given this a swatch, went all out and bought one for yourself or you just want a chin wag be sure to leave your comments below. As you know I'm always looking to try new brands and products so if you have any suggestions come link with me on Twitter, Facebook or even Instagram to see my inner glow (but don't forget your shades)

Until next time folks, blinded by my own glow yo!

H.Elizabeth x

Makeup Revolution | Iconic 2 Shadow Palette

Since having my little blogging break I have been busy. Busy buying that is. Really with my holidays on the approach I feel as if my spending has hit an all time high, and I'm not sure why that is, it's not like I really NEED a new eyeshadow palette for Paris is it? Well in short yes, at least that's how I have rationalized it in my head, and why not this palette in particular I got for the bargain price of £4, especially as the blogosphere has raved about this being a fabulous Urban Decay dupe.

Makeup Revolution has been on the go for a good while now, sold exclusively online and in Superdrug they have been the talk of the town and Twitter for a long time mainly because they have been pitched to the press as the new IT brand for bargain beauty and it's easy to see why. It isn't everyday you get a new make up brand with prices starting from £1, and given my new palette has 12 gorgeous shades for a pittance of the cost of Urban Decay you can see why they're flying off the shelves!

 

I chose the Iconic 2 palette as the shades seemed to have cooler undertones in comparison to the Iconic 1 and 3, which tends to go a bit better with my skin colouring. The palette has 4 matte shades and 8 shimmer and has a great range of browns, nudes, taupes and golds (my favourite go to everyday shades) When I first took the palette home I was skeptical, there was just no way these £4 palettes could compare to a luxe shadow that is over triple the cost, but being the beauty and trend fiend I so truly am I gave it a go anyway. The first day I wore the shadows I used shade 3 (inner eye), shade 5 (crease) and shade 10 (blend) alongside my regular liner and mascara products, I was incredibly impressed by the pigmentation in these shades, particularly because I thought I would really have to work to get them to stay on my lid! It was for a pretty full day out to my grandmas, off to ASDA for the weekly shop, B&Q then home to cook dinner, so I was interested to see whether or not these wonder pigments would stand the test of time and so far I have not been disappointed.

These have quickly become my go to products alongside my bourjouis shadow pot which I use as a highlighter, and I can completely see why the blogosphere has been going mad for the brand. Never did I think I would see they day where I would opt for a budget product over what is considered the 'real deal' I think this may be the dawning of a new beauty era for me and perhaps for you too if you decide to give these a try.

I hope you have enjoyed hearing my take on the Makeup Revolution palettes particularly as I have been incredibly late in joining the party, but you know a girl has to do her research! If you have tried these palettes please do leave me a comment below to let me know what you thought, are there any more budget products I ought to be investing in? Come Tweet your suggestions at me if you don't fancy commenting or of course if you'd like to keep up with the latests posts be sure to follow me on Bloglovin.

Until next time folks, I'm going budget beauty.

H.Elizabeth x