Spectrum Atlantis Flat Top Buffer Brush

This time last year I won a competition on Twitter with Spectrum Brushes and since then I've been loving not only the seven piece brush set that I won but the brushes I have purchased myself. Spectrum Brushes have been in three of my favourites posts over the year including my 2014 favourites! Spectrum Brushes are all synthetic, cruelty free, vegan friendly and inexpensive! 

I was so excited when this beaut landed on my doorstep as I love Spectrum Brushes; I have the *Spectrum Atlantis Flat Top Buffer Brush (£8.99) which is just gorgeous! I have a few flat top buffer style brushes in my collection which I use for foundation and I use this one the same way. 

I've used this buffer brush for my liquid foundations and also on occasion for setting powder; it works so well at applying and blending liquid and powder. The bristles are so smooth and soft, they don't drag on the skin or create streaks. I also love the design of the brush, it is so colourful and the theme is so unique and pretty! I haven't experienced any shedding or wear with any of my Spectrum brushes and they wash well too. All Spectrum Brushes, as far as I know, come with a cute transparent case which would be great for storing the brushes in for travelling.

Overall, yet another brush from Spectrum Brushes that I'm so impressed with. The quality of the brushes as well as the design is just as good as my high end brushes and better than some of the MAC brushes I own. I have at least 15 brushes from Spectrum (two sets that I won and a few that I've bought with my own money) and I would highly recommend them, if you are starting out with makeup or if you are a full on makeup addict like me! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

Have you tried any makeup brushes from Spectrum Brushes? What do you think of the latest Atlantis collection?

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2014 Favourites: Makeup & Nails

I cannot believe how quickly the year has gone by! It is now time for my yearly favourites, I will split the products up into categories such as makeup & nails, skincare, body care and fragrance. I have already published my favourite blogs of 2014 (here) and my 2014 favourite skincare (here). This year I have decided to pick a winner from each product type and a runner up otherwise this list would be even longer!

Primer (eye/face) Winner: Nars Pro Prime Eyeshadow Primer

Runner Up: Maybelline The Smoother Face Primer

Foundation Winner: Max Factor Smooth Effect Foundation

Runner Up: Max Factor Luminizer Foundation

Concealer Winner: Clinique Airbrush Concealer

Runner Up: Essence Stay All Day Concealer

Powder Winner: Essence All About Matt Fixing Powder 

Runner Up: Revlon Nearly Naked Powder

Bronzer Winner: Chanel Multi-Colour Healthy Glow (01)

Runner Up: Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer & Smashbox Baked Fusion Soft Lights

Highlighter Winner: TheBalm Mary Loumanizer 

Runner Up: Kryolan For GlossyBox Cashmere Highlighter

Contour/Blush Winner: NYX Blush (Taupe)
Runner Up: Nars Douceur Blush

Mascara Winner: Yves Rocher Sexy Plump Mascara 

Runner Up: Rimmel 100% Waterproof Mascara 

Liquid Eyeliner Winner: Essence Liquid Ink 

Runners Up: Sephora Waterproof Liquid Liner & Stila Stay All Day Liner

Lip Stain Winner: Loreal Splash Stain (Lolita)

Runner Up: Rimmel Provocalips Lip Colour, Soap & Glory Lip Lacquer & Topshop Gloss Ink

Lip Gloss Winner: Laura Mercier Lip Glace 

Runner Up: Maybelline Colour Elixir 

Eyeshadow Quad/Palette Winner: Makeup Revolution Palettes 

Runner Up: Soap & Glory 'What's Nude' Quad

Makeup Brushes Winner: Spectrum Brushes 

Runner Up: Real Techniques Brushes & Bare Minerals Face Brushes

Nails Winner: H&M Nail Polish Pot Remover 

Runners up: Revlon Parfumerie Polishes & Colorstay Top Coat

Now for a few honourable mentions for products that I have also loved during 2014 but didn't quite make the final cut:

Firstly, the Sewlomax makeup bags! I have three of them and I took one of them on holiday with me back in august and I loved using it! Also the Bare Minerals Mineral Veil, Clarins Extra Comfort Foundation and the Essence Nail Polish Corrector Pen have been fantastic long term favourites!

What are your 2014 makeup/nail favourites? Have you tried any of the products I have mentioned? 

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November Beauty Favourites

I cannot believe it is December already! This year has gone so quickly! Now it is time for my November favourites which is a little later this month as I've had so many blog posts to publish, including my big international christmas giveaway - don't forgot to enter! Here are the skincare, body care, makeup, haircare and makeup tools I have been loving throughout November. 

Firstly, skincare. I love been obsessed with the Rodial Stemcell Superfood Facial Oil for the past few months, it has quickly become a daily staple in my skincare routine. It gives my skin an instant moisture boost and radiance although it absorbs fairly quickly and doesn't leave my skin greasy - check out my full review, here. My next skincare favourite is the fantastic Nivea Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Water which is just as amazing as Bioderma, in my opinion. It leaves my skin so smooth, soft and cleansed without stripping the skin - however I wish it was better at removing waterproof mascara! My final skincare favourite for November is the Body Shop Aloe Soothing Day Cream which I have almost finished. This day cream is so hydrating and smoothing, although I assume that is because it contains silicones (which aren't amazing for the skin) but its a great day cream for those bad skin days. 

Onto my haircare favourite of the month, the Moroccan Oil Extra Volume Conditioner which I received as a sample from Hairtrade to review. It is a massive 500ml bottle, it smells DIVINE and it is incredibly moisturising yet it doesn't weigh my hair down or make it greasy! I think I have found my perfect conditioner! Full review coming soon. 

I only have one body care favourite and it is the gorgeous Body Shop Glazed Apple Hand Cream (full review here) which doesn't irritate my eczema at all, it smells really nice and it absorbs quickly - what more could you ask for in a hand cream. Also it is so inexpensive!

My only makeup favourite of the month is a mascara! Shock horror! It is the Rimmel 100% Waterproof Mascara which gives natural but fluttery long lashes instantly and it definitely is waterproof; it is also very affordable. 

My last beauty favourites for November are makeup brushes, the first is from Bare Minerals and it is their Flawless Face Brush which is one of the softest brushes I have used and it is travel sized so it is great to keep in your handbag. I received it as part of a christmas starter kit from House of Fraser (full review here). My last favourite is a powder brush from Spectrum Brushes. I have reviewed their brushes previously and I cannot rate them enough! The brushes are cruelty free, incredibly soft and affordable. I would definitely recommend them. I recently bought a set and some individual brushes from their sale, some of which were only 99p!

There are my beauty favourites, what beauty products have you been loving recently? Have you tried any of the products featured in my post?

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Review: Spectrum Brushes

I won a competition on twitter with Spectrum makeup brushes and I won a seven piece set from them. I am really happy to have won as I am a bit of a makeup brush addict and I always want to try more! #hoarder 

I won the Spectrum Limited Edition 7 Piece Set (£39.99, currently on sale at £23.00). I had only heard of this company because of the competition and I am so glad I entered, not just because I won but it is a great company and I LOVE the brushes! The brushes can packed really nicely. Spectrum brushes are vegan and cruelty free which is fantastic and I think all brushes should be. The brush bristles are 100% synthetic and my set comes with a great triangular hard travel case for the brushes. 

The set contains seven brushes including a foundation, concealer, powder, blush, lips, eyebrow and eyeshadow brush so you get a good mix of brushes. I have been using them consistently for the past week and I adore them. I like the design, the purple is really cute and fun; also the bristles are super soft - they are a bit softer/smoother than the real techniques brushes I own (and I own a lot of them). 

Face brushes: The foundation brush is a flat top kabuki style brush that is soft but also really dense so it is good for foundation - especially cream foundation and also cream contour/blush as the bristles are very densely packed together. The powder brush is big and very soft, it doesn't pick up too much powder and works so well! The blush brush is my favourite from the face brushes in this set as it is angled so it works really well for contouring and also bronzer, I love it and again it is incredibly smooth/soft on the skin! Finally the concealer brush, it could be used as an eyeshadow brush for packing on an all over the lid shade but it is also great for applying concealer under the eyes and on blemishes or redness. 

Eye and lip brushes: The eyeshadow brush is similar to an ecotools brush I have but this one is smoother, it applies shadow really well but as it is quite dense it isn't good for blending - you need a fluffier, less dense brush for blending eyeshadow. The lip brush is fantastic, it applies colour and lip balms evenly and smoothly. The final brush is the eyebrow brush. I have been using this for my brows as it small and precise but also as a liner brush - to apply eyeshadow as liner along the upper and lower lash line. 

Overall, I am so impressed with the design and quality of the spectrum synthetic brushes, I would highly recommend them! The case is also really nice although it isn't that easy to get all of the brushes in it and closed without squishing the bristles. To find out more about Spectrum brushes, click here. Overall, I would have to rate the company/brushes ★★★★★, 5/5!

Have you tried Spectrum brushes? What is your favourite makeup brush manufacturer?

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