Eyeliner Showdown

Hello lovelies, time to show some love for eyeliners. Today I want to show you some of the eyeliners that I have used in the past including drug store and high-end, and compare them since my last "showdown" blogpost had a great feedback, so here it goes...
(Disclaimer: these are just part of my eyeliner collection. I do have some other ones that are only available in Italy so it wouldn't be fair to show them to you. Also I'll do a separate blogpost on liquid eyeliners so stay tuned for that. This one is just about the pencil eyeliners.)
Avon Glimmerstick Diamonds Eyeliners. I have 2 shades here to show you. One is in Brown Glow and the other one is in Golden Diamond.

They are, like the name suggested, very glittery and shimmery especially Golden Diamond, which in my opinion are great for holiday seasons and out in the town at night. They can be used as eyeshadow base as well, and I find they don't budge that way. The Golden Diamond is great for inner corner highlight, just really brighten up the eyes extremely gorgeous in the evening. They go on pretty smooth, nice colour pay-off, but just be careful because they tend to break as they are pretty soft. I really like that they come in twist-up form so I don't have to sharpen them. I do like them and for the price, you just can't go wrong.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner. I have the shade in Bronze. This is hands down the best in the bunch. It goes on so smoothly, never tugs my eyelids, great pigmentation, and it stays on till I decide to take it off. Great eyeliner indeed. I have also been using it as an eyeshadow because the colour is so pretty. It is a bronzy shade obviously but filled with gold sparkles. It retails for $19 but it's on sale at the moment for only $9 so hop to it guys!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal. I own 004 Taupe and 005 Nude. I mainly use them on my waterlines and I find them to be pretty long lasting, especially the Nude shade. The Nude one is a great skin tone colour for cancel any redness on the lower waterlines, it just really neutralise the eyes and make me look awake. It is matte, and goes on smoothly.

Taupe however has some iridescence to it but very subtle. The colour itself is gorgeous and I sometimes even use it as an eyeshadow or a base for any neutral eyeshadows I might use over it. Rimmel Scandaleyes line is really amazing and they are for sure the best drug store eyeliners I've ever used.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, and I have the colour in Perversion which is the blackest black that you can get in the market in my opinion. I have featured this eyeliner in my October Favourites so click here if you wanna know more, but basically this is my favourite eyeliner to use when I want to go for a smokey effect on my eyes. I don't like as an eyeliner because it smudges on me real bad but once I blend it out then it has no problem as far as staying on for the whole day.

Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil and I have the shade in 15 Bling Bling which is this gorgeous golden bronzy shade that contains zero glitters so don't be mistaken by the name. Because this colour is so gorgeous and wearable, I sometimes use it as an eyeshadow base. I don't use it on its own as an eyeshadow though because it does crease on me but as a base is pretty awesome. I also use it on my waterlines if I'm doing a bronzed eye look. It glides on pretty smoothly, really cheap and I believe Essence does some other awesome fun colours.

Verdict: They are all pretty good but the Tarte one is by far the best, in all aspects, so if you wanna splurge then I say go ahead and get the Tarte one, but if you are on a budget then Rimmel is the way to go. Hope this is helpful and if you do have some other questions regarding eyeliners then feel free to contact me on twitter/instagram @eflicciardello. Until next time... ... 

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Favourite Reds

You guys know how I feel about red lippies don't you?! I just can't get enough of them. If I can choose only one lip colour to wear for the rest of my life and that would be RED full stop. It just looks so flattering and so chic on all age groups and all skin tones. It can be worn on both day time and in the evening, casual days or formal events, red carpet, you name it so I thought I would show you my all time favourite red lip products, hope you like it. (Click the links for lip swatches)

The Perfect Neutral Eyeshadow
Makeup most beautiful in the world
Always follow-up
New Makeup New Look 

There we go, I've got all different toned reds here to show you today, from drug store to highend, and they are all my favourite. Let's start with the 3 more pinky toned reds. The thing I like the most about these pinky red is that they make my teeth look whiter, and I tend to go towards them in spring and summer because of the pink under tone. 

(left to right: Bite, Wjcon and Tarte. You probably can't tell from this picture but the Wjcon and Tarte ones are with glossy finish)

The Bite High Pigment Pencil in Quince is very opaque compare to the other two and much more "matte". I mean it's not complete matte more of a satin to matte finish which I really like, and the interesting thing about this lipstick is that in some lightings is more of a deep fuchsia and other times actually looks more red. So pretty and so comfortable on the lip, literally feels like nothing on. 

As far as the Wjcon Long Lasting Lip Pencil (Passion Rose 09) and the Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick (Candy Red) those are more sheer with glossy finish. The Tarte one is a little more opaque and more pink I would say. They are both comfortable on the lips and very hydrating. FYI the Wjcon one is not as long lasting as the Tarte one but I really like the colour and the fact that it is sheerer so that I can totally wear it on a casual/minimal makeup day. FYI Wjcon is exclusively sold in Italy but the KIKO Creamy Lip Crayons are very similar. 

Now let's talk about this Avon Glimmerstick Lip Liner in Red Brick. I have been using this for as long as I could remember. The colour is a brick red hence the name and it is a good match for most of my red lipsticks but perfect for warm reds. It's matte, lasts well, and for the price you really can't go wrong. 

(left to right: Dior and YSL)

Ohh Dior... You guys know how much I'm obsessed with Dior lipsticks, especially this Rouge Dior in 999 which in my opinion is a classic red and perfect for formal events or evening nightouts. It is a warm red from what I can tell and would look gorgeous on all skin tones. It is as light as a lipstick could ever get as far as texture goes plus it smells lovely. It's a must-have if you love red lippies. 

(with YSL on)

If you have to buy one thing from YSL and that would be the lipsticks. YSL certainly knows what they are doing when it comes to lipsticks because all their lip products are simply to die for. I like the formulas, the scent, how it feels on the lip as well as lasting power. I mean you just can't go wrong with YSL lipsticks especially the Rouge Pur Couture The Mats line. I have this gorgeous red shade in 209 Red Rythm and it is my go-to red lipstick when I go out in the evening. It is matte but not flat, feels light and lasts ages. It is also a classic red I would say, but a tad cool toned compare to the Dior one.

(from left to right: Bite, Avon, Wjcon, Dior, YSL and Tarte)

That's it guys. Those are my favourite red lippies. You know what I'm gonna say? When in doubt, go with RED.

What are your favourite red lip products? 

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The Perfect "Nudes"

Happy Monday beauties! 

I love a good nude lipstick because it goes with different looks especially flattering if you pair with smokey eyes. You see what I am saying?!

You need to know your skintone when it comes to choose the perfect nude lipstick because sometimes the wrong nudes can wash you out and believe me that would not be pretty. 

I have a fair to medium (Mac NC 20) and slightly yellow undertoned skin, and now I will show you my all time favorite nude lipsticks that suit my skintone really well, and if you are someone that have the same or similar skintone then they would work for you as well. Hope this helps! 

First up, it's a recent purchase. It's the Rouge Dior Lipstick in the shade 169 Grège 1947. I love this colour, it suits me really well and I think it would look good on any skintone, well perhaps a tad too light on dark skintoned girls. This was the shade that Dior used on Natalie Portman when she shot for the Dior commercial. It looked beautiful on her and that's one of the reasons why I bought it, I am not gonna lie. But it turns out to be really lovely on me so good shot I guess. Hah! 

This lipstick is so lush! It's creamy, light and has a nice smell to it. It's a satin finish but quite glossy to be honest so you don't need a gloss over it. It's a peachy nude and with a slight beige to it. I mean you just can't go wrong with Dior lipsticks. They are expensive but well worth it.

I can't talk about nude lipsticks without talking about Mac nude lipsticks. I mean Mac has some really lovely lipsticks and their colour range is incredible. I guarantee you'll find the one you want from Mac let's just leave it like that. The shade I have here it's called Peach Blossom. 

It's a cream sheen which means it's moisturizing, has a nice sheer wash of colour but opaque enough, it feels very comfortable on the lips, and quite glossy. It has the signature vanilla scent like all Mac lipsticks do. It's a peach pinky nude and it is seriously gorgeous. 

I have featured both the Dior and the Mac ones in my Lip Product Addict Tag blogpost so make sure to check it out by clicking . 

Next up it's the Femme Nude Lip Stylo in No.5 Nude from Hourglass. This is rather different than the last 2 nudes I just mentioned. It is a matte finish and very opaque with some shimmers running through, but that being said it looks very natural on the lip. 

It's so light and creamy I just can't get over how good it feels on the lip. It does not have any smell which is ok. Would be perfect for someone who is sensitive to scents. The colour is a peachy goldeny colour, very warm toned. Lovely! I mentioned this lipstick in my Top 5 Favorite Lipsticks blogpost, I'll link it  for you. 

Last but certainly not least is the Avon Lipstick in Pout. Make sure to check with your Avon Rep because Avon does some really nice coloured lipsticks. 

This is another peachy pink nude lipstick but more on the pinkier side (can you tell I like peachy nudes?) it's very pretty. It's quite opaque actually which I am very happy about. Smells lovely, very lightly scented and glossy. The only problem I have with this one is the texture. It's creamy yes but a little patchy in a way. It dries out my lips a little as well which I am not impressed. But it's very affordable so if you are looking for a cheap alternative to the first 3 lipsticks I mentioned above then the Avon Pout is the way to go.

That's it guys, those 4 are my preferred nude lipsticks and I hope I have helped you in a way in terms of choosing your "perfect" nude. Let me know your perfect nudes by leaving comments down below or tweet me

Thank you for reading I'll see you next time! Bye! Muahh! 

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My Top Rated Highlighters for Face and Body

I am a big fan of highlighters and let's face it who doesn't love glowy and nice highlighted cheekbones? I know I do. Every girl needs highlighters in their lives, and here are my top rated highlighters. Let's just get right into it! Ohhh and make sure you stay till the end because the last one is for those of you who like glowy silky legs.

In no particular orders, let's start with the Balm Mary-Lou Manizer AKA the Luminizer. 1st of all how cute is this packaging!!! This is a goldeney champangey colour which I think is suitable for all skintones. I guess I can save my breath on this one because I know that everybody and their mama loves it, every beauty guru that I follow talks about it and of course loves it. If you are into subtle highlighters then this is not for you. It's rather intense and opaque, you need the tiniest amount or you will end up looking like a disco ball. That being said, I love this highlighter so much and I use it pretty much everyday by using my Real Techniques Setting Brush, just dust a little on my cheekbones, centre of my forehead under my brow bones, on the bridge of my nose, a little on my cupid's bow and the tiniest amount down my chin. I am wearing it today actually. I got mine from my local makeup store, but you can purchase the Balm highlighter pretty much everywhere and it's affordable so love love love it!

If you don't know already that I love my skincare then you should check out right now. I know what y'all thinkin? Isn't it irrelevant? Well not exactly... This Shimmer Balm by thisworks has skincare ingredients in it. It makes you glow and benefit your skin at the same time. Isn't it wonderful? One of my favourite beauty guru "ICovetThee" had a full blogpost on it and you should definitely check it out if you'd like some detailed info on it. I got mine from thisworks website but I don't seem to find it, maybe sold out I don't know but you can purchase it from Asos if you are interested. I like the fact that it's tiny so I can take it on the go. It's got this nice golden sheen to it, and very hydrating on the skin due to the creamy texture and all the good essential oils. It has no smell so good for sensitive skin. It is in my opinion, gorgeous for the summer time as it gives this glow from within look which I absolutely love!

This Laura Geller Baked Highlighter in French Vanilla is my absolute favourite hands down. I got it off QVC and love it to death. This is for those of you like subtle highlighters. I don't know what the deal is with one but it has 0 shimmer and yet make your cheekbones stand out and glowy. This is definitely one of those "glowing from within" type of highlighters. It's so light in texture and not powdery at all. You should know that Laura Geller baked goodies are hand made from Italy and baked under terracotta pan for 24 hours. Just delightful!

Ok now this is a lipstick by Avon, but I use it as a highlighter, I mean just look at the shade. This is in the colour Bronze and I think it's perfect for highlighting the cheekbones and of course the centre of your lip to give the illusion of a fuller looking lip. This stuff is so multifunctional and that's the main reason why I love it and of course it is just gorgeous as a highlighter. It's perfect when you have a tan, great for summer!

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light is actually an all over face finishing powder, however it is rather shimmery for me to use it all over my face so I use it as a highlighter especially under the eyes. It instantly brightens my under eye area makes me look awake. I also dust it on my forehead and down my chin for a subtle highlight. I had done a blogpost on this powder so check it out if you want to know more. You can purchase it from spacenk cuz that's where I got mine from. It's definitely on the pricer side but it worths every penny in my opinion plus it'll last cuz a little goes a long way with it.

Last but certainly not least is this body highlighter from Benefit called "take a picture it last longer" (how cute) which I think it is essential for all women out there especially for summer. Who doesn't want silky and glowing legs am I right?!!!

This golden pink toned highlighter is designed for body but particularly great on legs. It leaves a gorgeous sheen to your legs and gives the illusion of wearing a pair of tights. It's so creamy and light on your skin, and so easy to apply just use the puff it comes with and apply with a circular motion. Definitely a must have for summer, well all year around really if you want to show off those gorgeous legs.

That's it. Those are my top rated highlighters for face and body. I hope you have enjoyed it and as always tweet me for daily updates and leave me comments on what you want to read next.

Muahhh xxx

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My top 5 Cream Eyeshadow choices

Hey guys...

Who loves cream eyeshadows? I know I do! They are just so darn easy to apply, stay in place all day (if you choose the right ones), and good for lazy days when you just want some definition on your eyes without using brushes and all that blending work! Just blend with fingers and boommm done. Am I right?!

There we go... My most used cream eyeshadows. Let's get right into it, shall we?!

You can't go wrong with Mac Paint Pots. Loads people love them, and I am obviously one of those people. They last long on your eye balls, loads colours to choose from, creamy, easy to apply and easy to blend. I am not gonna ramble more about paint pots cuz I know for sure you beauty junkies out there already know why they are so popular. Let's just say they are good and worth checking out if you haven't already! This is called "Quite Natural", and it's a great base for a dark smokey-eye, or use it on its own to give some definitions on lazy days.  

There we go, another paint pot. The shade is called "Groundwork". It might not look appealing but trust me, it's a great base for all kinds of coloured eyeshadows. You can of course use it on its own for a subtle "no makeup" makeup look if you will. It's also a great shade for blending on the crease. I know in fact that some Mac makeup artists use this shade for crease work. You can purchase paint pots from all Mac counters near you or online of course. 

Next up, Wjcon Soft Mousse Eyeshadow in N10. It doesn't have a name unfortunately but it's a great cream eyeshadow by all means. This is an Italian drug store makeup brand. It's like KIKO but I personally prefer this brand. It's pretty affordable, only 6.90 euros. Unfortunately you can't get it anywhere else in the world apart from Italy. Sorry, but I know KIKO does something similar so... Anyway this stuff is seriously god send. It stays on all day, trust me I have the world oiliest eye lids and this wouldn't come off until I remove it with a makeup remover in the evening. It's very light in texture, kinda mousey, very pleasant. I love this shade, it's a bronzey neutral colour if you are into "neutrals" like I do. 

We are almost there I promise. The 4th one is by Benefit. It's their Ceaseless Cream Eyeshadow in the shade "Birthday Suit". I've just checked their website and I don't seem to find this shade. I don't know if it's discontinued or sold out, but do contact Benefit if you are interested. 

Another neutral shade I know, but what can I say I love my neutrals. It's a great shade to apply on its won and/or layer it with another colour. It stays pretty well throughout the day. I might have to check out other shades too. Mine dried out a little bit, I've had it since last year, but it works still. It's all good. 

Last but not least Avon Super shock Eyeliner in Flashy Brown. I know it says eyeliner but I use it as a cream eyeshadow. It works really well as a base and of course on its own. I love this colour. Very natural but with a bit more reddish brown in it. It is quite opaque so you don't need a lot. It's great for a neutral browny smokey eye. So make sure you get it from your Avon Rep cuz it is worth it in my opinion. 

So there you have it. My top 5 favourite cream eyeshadows. They are all pretty affordable so do check them out if you are interested it. 

As usual leave me comments if you wanna make me happy, tweet me @eflicciardello for daily updates. Take care guys! xoxo 

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