MAKE UP | Cargo Cosmetics Essential Lip Color

L-R Las Vegas, Bombay

The Cargo Cosmetics Essential Lip Colors* are truly beautiful. Smooth and creamy yet lightweight and highly pigmented, they leave the lips feeling hydrated and looking glossy and full. The two I've been sporting the most recently? Las Vegas and Bombay. In terms of colour, they're on completely different ends of the spectrum. Las Vegas is a true nude, swaying just on the good side of "concealer lips" whilst Bombay is a nude pink. In terms of formula, the Lip Colors are second to none and beat the likes of MAC any day, but sadly, there are only 12 shades in the collection. Yes, there's a broad range; Barbie pinks, deep purples, classic reds, true nudes, but if you want variants, there isn't much choice. If there was, at just £13 each, these lipsticks would without a doubt become my "go-to high end" lippies. But for now, I'll make do with a couple in my collection and hope they expand the range further.

Have you tried these lipsticks before?
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BEST OF 2013 | Make up

Following on from this post which showcased my favourite hair, body, face and fragrance products of 2013 is this one; my favourite make up products of last year.

Eyes

Primer has always been a big must-have for me. Not only does it make eyeshadow appear more vibrant but it also helps a lot with lasting power. For the past few years, I've been addicted to Urban Decay's Primer Potion, however in the last few months of 2013, Too Faced's Shadow Insurance* - £17.00 has knocked the others out of the water. Although more expensive than Urban Decay's offering, Shadow Insurance can't be beaten when it comes to longevity. The Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara* - £6.99 (review) has been the mascara I've been reaching for the most since I first tried it. It's lightweight on the lashes, adds volume, length and stays put throughout the day. And finally, the NYX The Curve Eyeliner* - £14.00 (review) is probably one of my favourite discoveries of 2013. It's made applying eyeliner a complete doddle and I couldn't be without it. The Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - £20.00 (review) has remained a staple in my collection all year round. Not only is it fabulous for creating a simple eye, "Faint" is also perfect for my brows.

Nails

This was the year that I fully discovered Models Own nail polishes* (reviews). If you searched through my collection, you'd see that the majority of my polishes are by this brand. Not only have they released some outstanding collections the past year, but their polishes are also high quality and affordable. Lasting a good few days before chipping, applying opaque in one coat, these are a must-have for your talons.

Face

2013 was the year I got back into foundation. I've been a lover of Estee Lauder's Double Wear Foundation - £27.50 (review) for five years now and it will forever remain a staple in my collection. After abandoning it for a year, I came back to it in 2013 and I'm glad I did. High coverage and exceptional lasting power, I adore this foundation. In January of 2013 I bought the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation - £33.00 (review) after reading many rave reviews. The foundation is extremely pigmented which means that you only require a tiny bit for full coverage. It leaves the skin looking glowing and natural despite its high coverage. And finally, last year was the year I discovered my favourite foundation; VICHY Dermablend Corrective Foundation - £15.50 (review). As you can see from my review, this is as full coverage as coverage can get. It covers absolutely everything and I don't even end up needing concealer. It's also extremely lightweight on the skin and doesn't mask it in anyway. I'm addicted.

The Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - £9.99 (review) is my go-to base brush and I use it apply both foundation and concealer. It ensures maximum coverage from base products and can be used to stipple or buff product into the skin. My foundation's best friend has been the NYX Shine Killer Primer* - £12.50 (review). I'm prone to an oily t-zone - especially at work - and this primer ensures that shine is banished throughout the day.

Lips

When it came to lips, I fell in love with lip crayons. They add a nice hint of colour and moisture to the lips. My favourite has be the Pur Minerals Lip Gloss Sticks* - £16.00 (review) as they glide over the lips beautifully leaving behind an intense wash of colour and lots of hydration. At £16 they're definitely not the cheapest on the market but they're so easy to use that the price tag is worth it. 

Favourite Brand

If you've been reading Bamboozle Beauty for a while then you'll already know that I've been addicted to the brand, KIKO all year. Every product of theirs that I've tried is one that I've fallen head over heels in love with. High quality, great prices and an extensive product range, this brand is the first brand I go to if I'm looking for something new. You can find my reviews here.

What have been your favourite products this year?

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MAKE UP | The five product face

If you'd have asked me two years ago what make up I slap on my face before heading out to university, I'd have listed a whole host of products. Gone are the days where I'd wake up two hours before my lesson and carefully prep and prime myself. These days, I wake up with just enough time to get ready and now, I've perfected my "five product face."

Foundation

Foundation is a definite must-have for me. I have extremely bad skin and I can't go anywhere without my base products. If I'm strapped for time, out comes the SEVENTEEN Stay Time Foundation - £6.49. I bought this recently and I'm really loving it so far. It stays put without a primer and provides full coverage that still looks flawless at the end of the day. It does have a tendency to cling to dry patches but a good moisturiser eliminates this problem.

Eyebrows

Earlier this year, I got my eyebrows waxed back home and the woman over plucked them and left my eyebrows non-existent. My brows aren't the fullest of the bunch anyway so nowadays, I pretty much have to draw them on fully. For my eyebrows I use the Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Faint - £20.00 from the Naked Basics palette. The colour is perfect for me and the formula works wonders on the eyebrows.

Blush

As someone who used to hate cream blush, I've certainly found a soft spot for it these days. The Bourjois Cream Blush in Healthy Glow* - £7.99 stippled into my skin using the Real Techniques Stippling Brush is my favourite blush combo. The stippling motion doesn't wipe away from foundation meaning that my scars remain covered up. Like the blush name suggests, it leaves the skin looking healthy and glowing - and it's quick and easy to use.

Powder

To set my base products, I use the CARGO Cosmetics HD Picture Perfect Translucent Powder* - £21.00. I didn't used to like powder much - I never understood its purpose - however this one has completely changed my mind. It creates a soft focus on the skin and balances out oil and dryness perfectly. It leaves my skin looking flawless, shine-free and healthy. Despite the fact that it's a loose powder, it's also very easy to use because of the packaging.

Mascara

And finally, a make up look wouldn't be complete without mascara. I find myself looking bald and "undone" without it and my favourite is the Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara* - £6.99. It separates lashes, volumises them and lengthens them in one easy step. The formula doesn't weigh the lashes down and it stays in place throughout the day. For £6.99, it's the best mascara I've tried and I most definitely couldn't be without it.

Have you tried any of the products mentioned above? What is your "five product face?"

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MAKE UP | Top 5 powders

As someone who never used to bother with powder, I've built my collection up quite a bit over the past couple of weeks. I have combination skin - basically, my forehead and nose get very oily while the rest of my skin is normal and whenever I have a spot/blemish, the skin around that area gets extremely dry. It's a nightmare and powders tend to cling to the dry patches. However with my skin being oily in areas, powder is something that I do need. I've been loving powders recently - as you can probably see from this post - so I thought I'd share my top 5 with you.

CARGO Cosmetics HD Picture Perfect Translucent Powder* - £21.00

I would say that this powder is my favourite. The translucent powder feels weightless on the skin and creates a soft focus, naturally matte finish. It immediately blurs pores and imperfections giving you an even coverage. It contains micro encapsulated pigments which self-adjust to every skin tone meaning that one shade suits all. The packaging of this makes the loose powder extremely easy to use and it's a pleasure dusting this over my skin. My skin looks perfected, natural and semi-matte in an instant. I'm addicted.

Bourjois Java Rice Loose Powder - £9.99

For Boujois' 150th birthday they have re-released and reinvented their best selling cult classic from 1879. This powder is delicately scented and it feels feather-light on the skin. It aims to boost skin radiance and it does have fine shimmer particles contained within it. On first glance you do think you're going to look Twilight-esque but once dusted over the skin, the powder smooths the complexion and sets make up nicely.

bareMinerals ORIGINAL SPF 15 Foundation* - £25.00

Although technically this is a foundation, my skin is serverly blemished so I can only use this as a foundation on good skin days. I will be doing a full review of this because the coverage is decent and can be built up. However for this post, I'll be talking about this as a powder. My skin has been very bad recently so I've been buffing this on top of foundation to provide extra coverage. It gives me a naturally luminous finish that doesn't clump, cake or dry the skin out. It's silky soft to touch and leaves the skin looking flawless. As it's a mineral foundation, it's clinically proven to improve the appearance of your skin over time - I can't find fault with this.

Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Make Up Compact* - £24.00

I have done a full review with before/after comparison pictures of this foundation and you can find that here. The coverage of this is outstanding and it can be built up to almost medium/full. Like the bareMinerals one, this one is clinically proven to correct, prevent and interrupt your skin concerns. As this is a pressed mineral powder, it's very easy to use and this is the powder that I carry around with me on a day-to-day basis. It mops up oil without drying to skin out and when used lightly, adds a bit of extra coverage to the skin.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - £3.99

And finally, this powder has definitely done the blogger/YouTuber rounds and for the price, it's a lovely powder. It's lightweight, free of fragrance, oils, parabens and talc and leaves the skin completely matte. It doesn't add any coverage at all but it's nice to blot the skin down with. For the price, it's a bargain and something that everyone should have in their make up bags.

What are your favourite face powders? Have you tried any of the above before?
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The long lasting make up

L-R CARGO Water Resistant Blush in Ibiza, CARGO Water Resistant Bronzer, KIKO Eyetech Look Eyeshadow in 112, KIKO Long Lasting Colour Lip Marker in 108

I do understand that this post might be a little bit controversial but I for one, hate not wearing make up. My skin isn't good and I don't feel comfortable leaving the house without a little bit of slap on. When the weather is hot or you're away by the pool, I understand that for some of you, applying make up is a no-go but for me, it's a necessity. And luckily for girls like myself, there are some wonderful products out there that stay put no matter what.

Vichy Capital Soleil Beautifying Sun Protection Compact SPF30* - £14.45

I've raved about this product before and I'll continue to rave it about it every summer until I'm at least 60. This product is what I've been waiting for my entire life - an SPF that gives you damn good coverage. This protects you against UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of 30 so although it's not ideal for nights out or weddings, it's perfect for when you're out and about in the sun. This provides medium coverage that covers my scarring with no need for extra concealer. It set to a matte finish that doesn't dry the skin out and keeps it hydrated all day long. Literally the most perfect summer base product, ever.

CARGO Water Resistant Blush in Ibiza* - £19.00

This blush is great for injecting a bit of colour into your cheeks and the colour is an instant perk-me-up that makes me happy. The longwearing formula of this blush means that you don't have to bother with reapplication so it's perfect in hot weather. I absolutely adore CARGO as a brand - their pretty and simple packaging is gorgeous and the formula of this blush is outstanding too. It's finely milled and looks gorgeous swept over the cheeks.

CARGO Water Resistant Bronzer* - £19.00

This bronzer has tiny shimmer particles so although I wouldn't recommend it for contouring, I'd highly recommend it for adding a natural glow to your skin. The colour is deep enough to bronze up your complexion but light enough to stop it from looking muddy. There isn't a hint of orange insight just lots of little golden flecks of shimmer that reflect when the sun hits them - absolutely beautiful.

No7 Lift & Curve Eyelash Curler - £7.25

I was going to include a mascara in this post but unfortunately, I don't own a waterproof mascara and I never have done. I've never had an issue with mascara lasting all day long on my lashes and I'm quite blessed with long ones so a quick squeeze of the eyelash curlers and I'm good to go at times. There are a few bad reviews about these lash curlers on the Boots website but I for one can't find a fault in them - they do the job afterall and with the £3 off No7 voucher, they're a right bargain.

HD Eye & Brow Palette - £19.96

Oh I couldn't go anywhere without my brows on. I love many brow palettes but this offering from HD Brows really does earn its place at the top of the leaderboard when it comes to longevity. Once my eyebrows have been shaped and filled in with this, they do not budge. I'm telling you now, I've showered and bathed and the powder still doesn't move until I use a proper make up remover. Pretty good.

KIKO Eyetech Look Eyeshadow in 112* - £5.90

If you're going away then you need to invest in one of these. Not only are they small, portable and perfect for your luggage but they're highly pigmented and last all long without the need for a primer. I don't know what it is about the summer that makes me bring out the blue eyeshadow underneath my lash line but I do quite like it - especially this blue. It's deep but bright and has the most gorgeous shimmer running throughout it. KIKO also claim that these little eyeshadows last 150 applications which is outstanding for the price.

KIKO Long Lasting Colour Lip Marker in 108* - £6.90

It was hard for me to swatch this baby for you. Not because it's awful but because the swatch - no matter how hard I scrub - will be left on my hand for days. When KIKO say "long lasting colour" they sure do mean it. The pigment is intense and these lip markers are easy to work with. Essentially you can line and fill in your lips quickly and easily and not have to worry about transferring the colour onto anything you touch. These really are fantastic in terms of longevity and you can see my full review with further lip swatches here.

What are your favourite long lasting make up products? Have you ever tried any of the ones mentioned above?

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The eyeliner wardrobe | Collection 2000, NYX, Cargo

L-R Collection 2000, NYX, Cargo Cosmetics

L-R Collection 2000, NYX, Cargo Cosmetics

For me, eyeliner completes a look. It defines the eyes, adds depth and brings the look together. Granted, I used to be a big pencil eyeliner lover when I was younger, scribbling it all over my eyes and thinking I looked "sexy" but when it comes to felt tip, liquid liners, I'm pretty new to the business. I have three of these little beauties that I flit between and I love them all equally. It's most definitely a love affair and I must say that I've noticed a couple of green-eyes being darted around my eyeliner drawer.

The one that lasts all day - Collection 2000 Extreme 24h Felt Tip Liner £2.99

I've mentioned this eyeliner before. In fact, it's in the majority of my "Face of the Day" posts as I've been using it for yonks. It's very easy to use and it's the first liquid liner that I fell in love with. It glides onto the eyes, sets to a matte finish and stays put all day long. I've tested this fast drying eyeliner in many conditions - heat, concerts, nightclubs, snow. Everywhere you could imagine and it's never ended up sliding down my face. It's extremely affordable at £2.99 and it has five star reviews on the Boots website. It also comes in four different colour variations (black, purple, blue and teal) so you can let your inner colour goddess out.

The one that's easy to use - NYX The Curve* £14.00

This is a strange little contraption. When I first saw it, I was a little confused by it. All my felt tip liner loving life, I've been used to the standard pen shaped liners but this innovative eyeliner makes applying liner mistake-proof. It's very easy to hold which makes it easy to use and going wrong with this liner is practically impossible. The thin nib draws out a deep black line effortlessly - I'm shocked every other brand hasn't followed suit. You can see an example of a look I created using this eyeliner here. Me, creating an almost perfect flick?! I never thought it'd happen but alas, this eyeliner is incredible.

The versatile one - Cargo Texas Liner* £13.00

If you'd have placed a chunky eyeliner in front of me a few months ago, I'd have ran a mile. Needless to say, I've always been intimidated by them and threw them off to the side. But this chubby felt tip liner is easy to control and allows you to create a subtle or dramatic look. It's quick drying which means one sweep across the eyes and you're ready to leave the house - no nasty eyeliner marks in the crease over here. The colour is intense, long lasting and as I've already mentioned, extremely versatile. The water-based formula is crease proof and allows you create a thin line with the precise nib or a more defined look when you flip it on its side.

If you asked me to choose between the three, I wouldn't be able to. They're all perfect in their own way. Yes, they have similar qualities - long lasting, intense colour and easy to remove but each has their own added quality that benefits it in one way or another. I will throw my hands up and say that yes, I am an eyeliner addict and I'm certainly not ashamed.

What's your favourite eyeliner?

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July Favourites

This year is going by way too quickly! Before I know it, I'll be old and wrinkly. Another different background for you all today. One of the joys of being back home is finding somewhere to take pictures and seeing as July has been very hot, I thought taking photos outside would be extremely fitting. So here we are, on my grandparents back garden. It's been a wonderful month for photo taking, I'll tell ya. The lighting has been perfect all day every day - a blogger's dream. I've been loving a select few products this month so choosing came easily. I've rediscovered some oldies and added a few gems to my collection.

Colgate ProClinical A1500 Electric Toothbrush - £169.99

I won this in a blog giveaway and when I found out, I was ecstatic. If you didn't already know, I have braces and I've wanted an electric toothbrush for yonks. Now I don't just have an electric toothbrush, I have the electric toothbrush. This little wonder is damn expensive and I can hold my hands up and say that no, I wouldn't spend over £100 on a toothbrush. But it's been welcomed into my routine and I definitely do love it. It does the job perfectly and my teeth are sparkling clean afterwards.

KIKO City Filter Sunscreen SPF 50 Face Primer* - £12.90

Primer is a big must-have in my routine and I find it weird whenever I don't use one. Not just because my make up tends to slide down my face but because make up is so much easier when it's being applied on top of a primer. This one comes with SPF 50 so it's been perfect for this scorching weather we've had this past month. It's also helped my foundation stay where it's supposed to be and created a beautiful make up base - my foundation literally glides over the top. It smells incredible too which is a big plus in my books.

Jurlique Citrus Purifying Mist* - £21.50

Jurlique has become a blogger favourite these past couple of months so I decided to whip this old favourite of mine back out. Although the bottle isn't very practical (it's beautiful though), the product inside it is wonderful. This clarifying mist perks my skin up and balances my combination skin out like a dream. Sometimes I spritz this on top of make up to revive my complexion and other times I soak a cotton pad and wipe over my skin with it to wake me up. It's a great multi-tasker and the perfect pick me up for my skin.

Beetox Manuka Honey & Bee Venom Serum* - £45.00

I won't go into too much detail about this product as I am trialling it and will be doing a full blog post with before/after comparison pictures. But since using this I have seen a dramatic improvement in my skin tone. Some of my scars have even completely disappeared which is a godsend for me. It's hydrating, smells beautiful and although it contains bee venom inside it, it's not the slightest bit scary and uncomfortable. I most definitely look forward to sharing my full thoughts with you.

Lip Smacker's Disney Princess in Snow White* - £3.00

I'm a lip balm addict and these pretty little things from Lip Smacker have been a welcome addition to my collection. I have two of them - Snow White and Ariel - and I'm constantly changing between the two. Snow White smells and tastes of cherries and leaves a beautiful sheen on the lips. They're moisturising without being too heavy and I'm constantly smothering my lips in them. Delicious!

Estee Lauder Double Wear - £28.50

This was the second high end foundation I ever tried way back when I was 15 and it's one that I will always repurchase. For the last few months, it'd been feeling a little bit unloved as I'm a pale girl and I buy this a couple of shades darker for when I've been fake tanning (it's the perfect "night-out" foundation you see). But with the sun comes a tan and I've been whipping this out every morning and it's served me well. In this heat, it lasts all day long, provides full but lightweight coverage and stays put. It doesn't move. At all.

Eucerin Even Brighter Spot Corrector - £14.50

Aswell as my Beetox I do believe that the Eucerin Even Brighter range has been contributing to my "new skin." The moisturisers are wonderful and if I had it my way, I'd have included the entire range in my July favourites. But that's a little bit obsessive so I narrowed it down to this. It's small, practical, quick and easy to use and does a fine job at fading scars. At first, I was worried about how small it is but you only need a tiny amount and I'm far from running out any time soon - even with my badly scarred skin.

Cargo Cosmetics Texas Lash* - £14.00

Since Cargo launched in Debenhams, I've been loving the brand and this mascara is no different. The brush is absolutely huge and it leaves me with gorgeously thick and fluttering lashes. Although the brush is massive, I find it easy to use and only need one coat to be left with high volume lashes. Another wonderful thing about this mascara is that once it has set, it doesn't smudge which in this weather has been a life saver. Despite this, I find that it's easy to remove with warm water - no red and itchy panda eyes at night time over here.

Nars Blush in Outlaw* - £21.50

I definitely love me some Nars. I only have two products in my collection from the lovely brand - this blush and Deepthroat. And in these warm summer months the only blush I've been wearing is Outlaw. Although it looks intimidating in the pan, when blended into the skin it gives off the most beautiful flush of colour that looks incredibly natural. It does have a teeny amount of shimmer running throughout it that looks divine when it catches the sun. Nars blushers are pigmented but without being too soft so they last all day long.

Along Came Betty Brow Kit Br-wow* - £3.99

I absolutely adore filling in my eyebrows and I've only been going to one kit this month. I'd been using my HD Brow palette for a good few years and when this one came into my life, it quickly replaced it. It retails for £3.99 which is an absolute bargain and comes with two brow powders, a wax and a HD setting powder which softens and sets the brows. I cannot find a fault in this product - even the packaging is adorable - and the powders match my eyebrows perfectly.

I didn't realise how many products I'd chosen until I sat down and started writing about them. So I apologise for the length of this post. But when I love a product, I love a product and I need to share it with the world. If you have published a July favourites post then please leave the link in the comments as I love discovering new products and monthly favourites post showcase the best of the best.

What products have you been loving this month?
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REVIEW: CARGO Cosmetics with swatches

L-R CARGO Blush in Topeka, CARGO Eyeshadow in Yukon, CARGO in Paris

CARGO Cosmetics have now launched in the UK - although I do think I remember seeing them briefly in Boots over Christmas one year? - and I've been trying out a few products of theirs.

First up is the CARGO Blush in Topeka* (£19.00). Since receiving this product, I haven't worn any other blusher. It's the most perfect golden peach shade and has a beautiful shimmery rose gold running through it. It's nicely pigmented - not so pigmented that you look like a doll - but enough to give you a lovely glow. It also lasts nicely on the skin. Another product that I've been wearing pretty much everyday is the CARGO Eyeshaow in Yukon* (£12.00). This eyeshadow is great sweeped across the lids to give a wash of colour. I've been using it daily with a little bit of eyeliner and mascara to complete a look. It's also lovely paired with other eyeshadows - on the lid or in the crease - and as you can see from the swatch above, it's wonderfully pigmented. It's also buttery soft, doesn't leave fall out and lasts forever on the lids. Finally is the CARGO Lip Gloss in Paris* (£7.50). I haven't been wearing this daily purely because it is a very vibrant shade and I don't tend to experiment with colours on my lips. I have however, been wearing it around the house and for a lipgloss, the longevity is wonderful. It smells and tastes fresh and clean and it applies like a dream. It's also pretty moisturising and leaves a high shine finish. But the best thing about this lipgloss is the fact that it's completely non-sticky so you don't have to worry about the dreaded hair in lipgloss situation when the wind blows. I just wish I had this in a different colour! I've really liked experimenting with this brand and it's definitely a brand I'll look into a lot more. Their pigmentation is outstanding and the quality of their products can't be faulted.
Have you tried any products from Cargo before? What do you think of the brand?

xxx

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