Project Pan #6: 6 Months Of Makeup Empties

Fans of Marie Kondo and the decluttering trend will love the concept of a Project Pan, especially if you want to streamline your makeup collection and stop wasting money on products that you never use.

I've been a keen Project Panner for a long time now and although it might sound strange, I find it hugely satisfying to use up a makeup product. Similar to my popular monthly Empties posts that contain skincare and bodycare items that I've finished off, I've been saving my make-up empties for these six-month Project Pan posts to keep track of what I've been using up.

If you haven't heard of a Project Pan before, it's basically where you choose a number of makeup products from your collection to completely use up, and often, many Project Panners will tie this in with doing a No Buy challenge (e.g they won't buy any more mascara until their opened ones are finished off first). It's a great way to save money, clear out any old or expired products (I generally do this before choosing my products), and rediscover some old makeup favourites that you may have pushed to the back of the drawer and forgotten about.

So! Here are the results are my latest six-month Project Pan if you're curious to find out what I've been mainly using recently and whether I would repurchase any of them again. I initially chose 20 products as my target, but fell a little short of the mark and finished up 17 instead - but that's still pretty good going for me!

Tweezerman Browmousse

My brows have a mind of their own if I don't tame them with something and I've used Tweezerman's Browmousse in the past with good results. Another one arrived via a beauty box and I like it because it doesn't flake or go crunchy throughout the day. Repurchase? There are cheaper, similar products out there so probably not. 

Collection Super Size Fat Lash Mascara

Another beauty box find but one that was totally rubbish to be frank! It gave me panda eyes within an hour of wearing it and dried out quickly too. Repurchase? Nope!

Lily Lolo Mineral Blush in Ooh La La

It's incredibly rare that I repurchase blushers because they take an eternity to use up, but I loved this one so much that I immediately bought it again when I lost the original on holiday. Ooh La La is a gorgeous everyday pink that instantly makes my complexion look healthier and more awake. It's only taken me about three years to finish this one up! Repurchase? I'm sure I will at some point.

Eyeko Fat Liquid Eyeliner*

Whilst I adore Eyeko's Black Magic Liquid Eyeliner, this Fat one was really disappointing. The nib is just way too chunky to work with IMO, although it does have great pigmentation and staying power. Repurchase? Not for me. 

RMS Beauty Un-Cover Up in 22*

Featured in a previous Project Pan here, this multi-purpose foundation and concealer is a firm favourite of mine and I can imagine that I'll always have one of these in my makeup collection. My shade is 22 which is a perfect match for my skin tone and I just love the light-medium, buildable coverage that it offers. Repurchase? Yes.

Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Orange Blossom

LM's Second Skin Cheek Colours are some of the most flattering blushers that I've ever tried and this shade Orange Blossom has been in my stash for a long time. The formula is beautifully light and blends so easily (hence the name), and this colour was simply sheer peachy goodness. Repurchase? I think these may have been discontinued? :(

Doucce Fierce & Fine Graphic Pen Liner*

Argh, this is one of those annoying liquid eyeliners which is amazing in every possible way (staying power, pigmentation, ultra-fine skinny nib for precise flicks etc), but it dried up within a month of opening it! Repurchase? No.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in 5 Medium

If someone asked me today to pick a holy grail liquid foundation, it would be Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Foundation without a doubt. It covers all of my imperfections but doesn't make me feel or look like I'm wearing a thick mask. Worth every penny, though the bottle is a nightmare to get the last remnants out of. Repurchase? Yes.

Munio Miscui Skin Perfecting Veil in Nude*

I was very kindly given another one of these beauties at a blogger event last year and it's been my go-to setting powder ever since. Super finely milled, it's talc and preservatives free and gives the most natural looking 'my skin but better' finish. Repurchase? Yes.

Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Primer & Brightener*

One of my favourite primers, Jane Iredale's Smooth Affair goes on like silk and provides a lovely base for makeup, whilst also making your skin look brighter and more glowy. Many supermodels use it as a hangover/long flight pick me up and I can see why! Repurchase? Definitely want to buy the full-size.

Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner in Nobody's Baby

For the ultimate low maintenance, throw it in your handbag and re-apply without a mirror lip product, you can't go wrong with the Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioners. Nobody's Baby is their everyday neutral pink shade and I'm pretty sure this is the second or third tube that I've gone through. It's very moisturising and has a lovely glossy finish. Repurchase? Yes.

Clinique Colour Pop in Nude Pop

This lippie from Clinique is sort of similar to Nobody's Baby, but it offers more colour and is more of a standard satin lipstick finish. I liked it a lot, however I did find that it dried out my lips every now and then. Repurchase? Probably not.

Kiko Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick in 06

I find cream eyeshadow sticks so easy to use as you can simply swipe them on, blend with your fingers and you're good to go, so I reached for this quite often on a day-to-day basis when I was in a rush in the morning. 06 is a great shimmery bronzey/taupe shade that accentuates dark brown eyes beautifully. Repurchase? Yes.  

MEMI Expert Liner*

I'm not having much luck with liquid eyeliners lately - this is very similar to the Doucce one above as it performed so well and was really easy to use, but again, I found that it dried up too quickly for my liking (and I always make sure the lids are on properly - how disappointing!). Repurchase? No.

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Miracle Eye Wand in 2

This is Charlotte's answer to the Touche Eclat and it features a double ended tip with a brightening concealer on one side and an eye cream on the other. I LOVE the concealer end but the eye cream side proved to be too heavy, greasy and rich for my skin which is a such a shame because it puts me off buying it again as I loathe wasting product. Repurchase? No, but I'll try out her other concealers instead.

Doucce Maxlash Volumizer Mascara*

I was very impressed with this mascara - it gave me massive, wide awake lashes and definitely helped to lengthen, thicken and define them so it's a great all-rounder! Repurchase? Yes.

GOSH Forever Eyeshadow Metallic Eyeshadow Stick in 03 Light Copper

GOSH are a hugely underrated makeup brand IMO and their eyeshadow sticks are comparable with the KIKO ones above in terms of price and performance. They glide on easily and stay put all day, what more could you ask for? This shade 03 Light Copper is brilliant for brightening up the waterline or simply adding a glossy sheen of coppery gold all over the lids. Repurchase? Yes.

Have you ever done a Project Pan?

Have you tried any of the products that I used up?

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Project Pan #5: 6 Months Of Makeup Empties

It's time for the results of another Project Pan! I've been doing a PP since around Feb/March, so this is roughly six months worth of makeup empties and it's been a challenge!

Whilst I find it relatively easy to use up skincare and body products (as you'll no doubt have seen in my monthly empties posts), finishing up makeup items is a completely different ball game. This is probably because I don't wear makeup every single day, and when I do, I like to experiment a little and reach for a different lipstick or blusher, so it takes me a long time to fully use something up.

I love doing Project Pans because they encourage you to use the makeup that you have (it's a fantastic way to cut down on those impulse buys!) and it allows you some time to properly rediscover a bunch of products that you may have neglected. You can check out my previous completed Project Pans here.

For this PP, I pulled out 10 full-size makeup products that I really wanted to use up, and a couple of samples/minis as well. Here's how I got on and what I would consider repurchasing again.

Superdrug Deep Action Mattifying Shine Control Papers (featured here)

Have used these for years and they come in very handy when you're out and about, so are perfect for keeping in your bag for a quick touch up. They blot away any shine and don't disrupt your makeup. Repurchase? I'm currently using some from Mai Couture at the moment which I prefer, but I'd pick these up again as a budget-friendly option.

MOSSA Skin Perfector BB Cream in Soft Beige

I wasn't a fan of this at all! I found the formula too thick and greasy, and the colour quickly oxidised on me. Repurchase? No.

Dr Hauschka Tinted Day Cream

This was OK and provided a little more coverage which I liked as it still looked fresh, however, I feel that it would be better suited for drier skin types than mine. Repurchase? No.

Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Illuminating Primer* (reviewed here)

It was a very sad day when this primer ran out as it's one of the best that I've ever tried! I absolutely loved using it and it created such a beautiful brightening base each and every time. My skin loved it as well as I never had any breakout or clogged pore problems from using it on a regular basis. Repurchase? As much as I want to, I have some other primers to use up first, though I'm sure we'll meet again in the near future! 

Giorgio Armani Skin Defense Primer SPF 50* (reviewed here)

Although I initially really liked this primer, I slowly began to fall out of love with it about halfway through the bottle because the formula began to get quite thick and gloopy, despite still being well in date. For such an expensive primer, I would rather spend my money on the Juice Beauty one above, rather than risk buying this again and being unable to use the latter half of the bottle. Repurchase? No.

NARS Audacious Mascara in Black Moon

This was OK, but it didn't impress me enough to want to purchase a full-size and I feel that there are plenty of much better mascaras out there that are half the price of this one. Repurchase? No.

Ciate Wonderland Mascara (reviewed here)

Case in point, if you are after a quality high-end mascara, buy this one from Ciate instead! I've repurchased it twice now (always when there's been a discount code or offer on though) and it's fantastic. Gives me big lashes and reminds me a lot of Too Faced's Better Than Sex Mascara. Repurchase? Yes.

GOSH Blown Away Mascara* (reviewed here)

Like I mentioned in my original review, I wasn't 'blown away' by this mascara at all. It's OK for everyday/natural looks, but ultimately, I prefer a much bigger and volumised lash so this wasn't for me. Repurchase? No.

Daniel Sandler Invisible Blotting Powder* (reviewed here)

Wow, this felt like it lasted forever! I remember hitting pan on it around Christmas time! This is a brilliant translucent pressed powder which is perfect for producing a matte finish. It never looks cakey or powdery, and really does live up to its 'invisible' name. Repurchase? Tempted! 

Lord & Berry Intensity Satin Lipstick in Brick

This was a gorgeous 90s brown-toned, reddy pink and had a similar formula to MAC's Amplified Lipsticks which I loved. I found myself wearing this shade a lot during the start of the year around Jan-April, so I was glad to have finished it up a few months ago as I've had it my makeup collection for ages! Repurchase? I have a couple of lipsticks that are a similar shade so it's a no for now.

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup (reviewed here)

Creme Cup is one of those classic MAC shades and it's such a perfect pale pink nude that looks amazing with a smokey eye. It's also one of the few MAC lipsticks that I've ever repurchased which goes to show how much I must have liked it! Repurchase? I'm holding off as it takes me forever to use up a lipstick, and I do already have shades that are probably dupes. I will save this for Back2Mac though!

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner & Ink Liner 

I finished up two mini liquid eyeliners from Kat Von D. I didn't find that there's much difference between these two - they're both pigmented, easy to use and long-lasting, but perhaps the Tattoo Liner lasts a little bit longer? Repurchase? I would definitely buy the Tattoo Liner again.

Benefit Ready, Set, Brow!

I don't get the hype for this at all - it's basically just a clear brow gel! It does the job and does it well, but there are much cheaper products that are virtually identical to this, so I'm glad that I picked it up as a magazine freebie because I wouldn't pay full price for it. Repurchase? No.

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Cheek Gelee in Poppy Paradise (featured here)

Remember when these were all over blogs and Youtube?! I've gotten through a pot of this Poppy Paradise shade before and I still love it! Very easy to sheer out and it looks so pretty and fresh on. Repurchase? I have too many similar products to justify buying another one right now :(

Eylure Brow Amplifier in No 10 Dark Brown (featured here)

I've repurchased this before and still like it a lot. Super easy to use, it has a teeny tiny brush so that you can fill in small gaps for fuller brows. Doesn't smudge, looks natural and stays put all day. Repurchase? I'm trying out some different brow products at the moment and I think I've found one that I prefer over this - sorry Eylure!

Have you ever done a Project Pan?

Have you tried any of the products that I used up?

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New In Beauty: GOSH Fake It! Lash Primer & Blown Away Mascara review

GOSH launched their shiny new S/S18 makeup collection last month, and two standout winners for me are the new Fake It! Lash Primer and Blown Away Mascara. Both are perfect for achieving an easy, wide-awake, lash look that you can wear to work or Uni every day. 

I've become a bit of a snob with mascaras lately, shunning the high street in favour of my higher-end favourites from Stila, Benefit and Ciate. Why? I've long since gotten bored with the disappointing clumpy tubes from the likes of Maybelline, Barry M and Rimmel, and I've been loving the instantly bigger, thicker lashes that the luxury brands have been promoting (and making much better formulas for). 

However, as a student on a budget, my fancy mascara habit was getting expensive and I started to covet a more natural, 'my-lashes-but-better' look for every day. Which is why I've fallen in love with these two newbies from GOSH; they're cruelty-free, affordable (plus you can almost always find them on some kind of offer in Superdrug), and they give me the results that I want.

GOSH Fake It! Lash Primer* (10ml, £9.99, link)

Lash primers are something that I dabble with every now and again, but they're not something that I would think to reach for on a day-to-day basis. The best that I've tried is from Benefit and I'd say that this new GOSH one is an excellent dupe for it, as it yields the same results. The Fake It! Lash Primer comes out a light grey colour instead of brown, but it dries quickly and leaves no lasting greyish tinge to the lashes, making it suitable for all hair colours to use. 

The perfume and paraben-free formula is said to be 'nourishing and strengthening' as it contains Hyaluronic Acid, but I can't say I've noticed much of a difference in that department after using it regularly for a month. Still, maybe it's more of a long-term thing?   I do love the thickening and lengthening properties of this lash primer though, and the skinny rubberised brush effortlessly coats each and every lash. You can use it underneath any brand of mascara and it will help your lashes to look longer and more fluttery - I really love it!

GOSH Blown Away Mascara* (10ml, £9.99, link)

Quick confession; I wasn't 100% 'blown away' by this mascara when I used it on its own. It was OK, but nothing amazing. So for the purpose of the rest of this review, I'm going to focus on how much I like it when I use it with the Fake It! Lash Primer which is what I've been doing for the past couple of weeks. Like the primer, the Blown Away Mascara has a rubberised wand, but it's thicker and has a clever 2-in-1 brush and comb (one side has longer bristles than the other). This allows the wand to apply just the right amount of mascara for the first coat, and then you can flip it to the other side and use the shorter comb to separate, which I feel helps to prevent the lashes from getting clumpy.

As you can see by the photos below, when used with the Fake It! Lash Primer, this mascara performs beautifully for a lovely 'my-lashes-but-better' finish. My natural lashes are not very defined at all, so I love the extra blackened definition and the length that these two products give. There's not much volume going on, but for every day, I'm simply smitten. It's not OTT, I don't look like I'm about to go clubbing, and instead, it's a more natural and fluttery look. Best of all, this combo lasts throughout the day without smudging or flaking, and yet it's easy to remove with any standard makeup remover, the latter of which is something that I can't say for my more pricier mascaras!   

Worn together: GOSH Fake It! Lash Primer & Blown Away Mascara

The new GOSH S/S18 collection is available exclusively in Superdrug stores nationwide and online via Superdrug.com

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Project Pan #4: 6 Months of Makeup Empties!

Last Summer, I set myself another Project Pan target to see if I could use up 15 makeup products before the 7th January 2018 - here's how I got on!

I've been doing regular Project Pans to declutter my makeup stash for a while now (check out my previous posts here), and they've been a great way to help me rediscover forgotten favourites that have been hiding at the back of my collection. It's also a good way to save yourself some money and is a real motivator to keep you going when you're on a 'No Buy'! 

If you haven't heard of a Project Pan before, you basically pull out all the makeup that you want to use up, set a time frame, and well, use it up! You can follow the rules/goals of someone else's Project Pan (check Instagram, Youtube or Facebook groups), or simply make up your own like I did which was to use up 15 makeup products before 7th January 2018. 

I fell short of the mark by one product, but I'm still pretty pleased that I managed to use up 14! Below is everything that I finished off and whether I would repurchase them again:-

Base Products, Foundations & Concealers

• ILIA Vivid Foundation in F3 Santorini* - (review & swatches here) - This has been my go-to foundation for the past few months, especially since the weather started to turn colder as it's quite moisturising. I love the dewy, 'fresh face' finish that this foundation gives, it blends well and I would recommend it to anyone who wants buildable coverage, but doesn't want to look like they're caked in product. F3 Santorini was a great match for my olive skin and I didn't have any problems with oxidation or anything like that. It's expensive though which is the only downside! Repurchase? I would love to buy this again when I've used up some other foundations, but it's definitely a treat purchase!

• La Roche-Posay Rosaliac CC Creme SPF 30* - (review here) - I used this CC a lot during the Summer, and it's ideal for toning down and helping to cover up any redness. I found it gave me a lot more coverage than most CC style products, so it's a nice one to have in your makeup stash for those days when you don't want to wear a foundation. Repurchase? Maybe when it's Summer again as I didn't reach for it at any other time.

• Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturiser Tint SPF 30* - Another Summer favourite was this beauty from Perricone MD. I really loved this tinted moisturiser as it feels so silky soft on the skin and gives a lovely, healthy hint of colour that's perfect for 'no makeup days' and holidays. Repurchase? Yes. 

• RMS Beauty Un-Cover Up in 22* - (review & swatches here) - This little pot of multi-purpose goodness lasted for almost a year thanks to its 'a little goes a long way' formula. You can use it as a foundation or as a concealer, and it works well both ways, though I tended to use it more as a light-medium coverage base. Repurchase? Yes.

Bronzers

• Vita Liberata Trystal Self-Tanning Bronzing Minerals* (review here) - I finally used up a bronzer! This loose mineral-based bronzer from Vita Liberata contains DHA which gives you a light, buildable, gradual tan in the process, and can be used on both body and face. Gives a gorgeous, healthy-looking glow which looks great all year round. Repurchase? Yes.

Eyeliners & Eyeshadows

• Eyeko Black Magic Liquid Eyeliner (review here) - I've lost count of how many times I've repurchased this as it's one of my favourite liquid eyeliner pens. I love how easy it is to use and it has a beautiful glossy sheen to it. Stays put all day on me! Repurchase? Currently using Kat Von D, but I'm sure I'll go back to this at some point!

• Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Black Amethyst - When I don't want to wear straight up black, I found myself constantly reaching for this liner instead which comes in a gorgeous blackened-purple shade. Adds a little something different to a smokey eye and pairs incredibly well with dark brown eyes. Smudgeproof and long wearing. Repurchase? Yes.

• Daniel Sandler Long Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner in Black Velvet - (review here) - An old time favourite of mine, I've been using this seriously underrated Daniel Sandler eyeliner for years and must have gone through at least three or four of them. Affordable (less than a tenner), pigmented and can be used to create a wicked, thick and grungey smokey eye. Repurchase? Yes.

• ILIA Silken Shadow Stick in In Between Days* - (review here) - Oh how I enjoyed using this eyeshadow stick for about a month or so, and then it started to dry out and crumble! This shade was a pretty warm golden shimmer for everyday wear, but it needed a primer underneath to stop it from creasing on my oily lids. Repurchase? No.

Mascaras

• GOSH My Favourite Mascara* - (review here) - I'm definitely a big lash kinda gal, so natural looking mascaras never really do it for me. This was fine for casual days, but I didn't use it very often and then it dried up. Repurchase? No.

• Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara* - (review here) - Now this is my favourite mascara! I love everything about it - it makes my lashes look thicker and bigger, doesn't smudge or flake, and stays put until I want to take it off. Perfect! Repurchase? Yes.

• DHC Double Protection Mascara* - (review here) - Despite enjoying this mascara and putting it into a favourites post last year, I've since changed my mind because it dried up so quickly. The formula itself is great, but I'm so disappointed to see it dry out so fast. Repurchase? No.

• PUR Fully Charged Mascara - I picked this up in a GWP and was excited to try it, but sadly this mascara was a fail for me. It flaked, smudged and just turned into a mess within hours of wearing it. Repurchase? Nope!

Lip Products

• Korres Lip Butter In Wild Rose - I didn't manage to use up any lip products this time around, but I wanted to include this tinted lip butter from Korres as it's very pigmented and can easily pass as a lip stain in my eyes! Provides a super pretty rosy red tint to the lips and feels really moisturising. Repurchase? Yes.

Have you ever done a Project Pan like this?

Have you tried any of the products that I used up?

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Budget Beauty: GOSH AW17 Collection - Review & Swatches

If you're suffering from the Back-To-Life blues this week, why not treat yourself to some new makeup? And don't worry, this new range from GOSH is (mostly) friendly on the purse strings!

GOSH are one of my favourite budget-friendly makeup brands and you can find them easily in your local Superdrug with lots of great offers on throughout the range. As well as being gentle on your bank balance, their products are also cruelty-free and suitable for vegans - win win! I was kindly sent some products from their latest AW17 collection to share with you all and I've been testing them out for the past few weeks. 

Here's what's new from GOSH:-

 GOSH Primer Plus Skin Adaptor Anti-Pollution Primer in Chameleon* (30ml, £14.99, link)

Anti-pollution formulas have been a big thing in many new skincare products, so it's great to see a brand like GOSH developing an affordable makeup primer which has this element in it. This Primer Plus Skin Adaptor features their Cityguard+ complex which is based on marine origin ingredients to help protect the skin from everyday pollution such as car exhausts and cigarette smoke. In addition to these properties, it also has a tint to it to even out your skin tone and gives you a healthy looking glow, plus it creates a lovely smooth surface for applying makeup. If you're in the market for a new multi-benefits primer, this is well worth checking out.

GOSH Mix & Fix Blender Brush* (£9.99, link)

GOSH's makeup brushes are seriously underrated IMO, so if you're new to them, I'd recommend trying out their Mix & Fix Blender Brush if you're after a new base brush to play with. The sleek matte black handle makes this brush easy to hold and control, and the flat kabuki style head has a circular indent which is similar to the bareMinerals Perfecting Face Brush, but smaller, and I think it actually works better as you end up using a lot less product and get a much smoother and even finish! Great for buffing any liquid foundation into the skin and the bristles are nice and soft (synthetic and vegan-friendly too!).  

GOSH My Favourite Mascara* (10ml, £9.99, link)

Calling your mascara 'My Favourite Mascara' is a pretty bold claim, and unfortunately, GOSH hasn't won me over with this one. Specially formulated to be the perfect 'everyday mascara' it gives you natural looking lashes without the drama, which is perhaps why I'm not so keen on it as I generally prefer a more volumised lash look. But let's look at the positives; the rubberised bristle brush separates lashes like a dream, it's perfume and paraben free, and it can be removed with just warm water. Personally, though, I like more drama and volume from my mascaras, but it's certainly not a bad choice if you prefer a very natural looking mascara for every day.

GOSH Prime 'N' Set Primer & Mattifying Banana Setting Powder* (7g, £9.99, link) 

Banana powders have moved from the hands of makeup artists to the experimental beauty consumer, so I wasn't surprised to see GOSH bringing out their own version of this now-cult classic. If you haven't used a banana powder before, it's basically a yellow-toned setting powder which helps to colour correct any redness and also helps to neutralise and banish dark under eye circles. The best thing about them is that they're easy to use - just swap your regular setting powder for a banana powder and say hello to brighter skin! I like using this mainly underneath my eyes to set my concealer with as it definitely helps to brighten things up under there, but it's also great as an all over setting powder when I want a more matte finish; just use less of it than you might think.

GOSH 9 Shades Eyeshadow Palette - To Party In London* (£11.99, link)

I love a new eyeshadow palette (who doesn't?!) and this one is such a beauty! The new 'To Party In London' palette contains nine gorgeous shimmery metallic eye shadows, ranging from softer neutral pinks and browns, to more intense darker bronzes, midnight blues and coppers. Each shade is buttery soft, easy to blend and work with, and highly pigmented to boot. The packaging is glossy black, nice and compact, and features a large mirror which makes this palette great for travelling with. I really love the mix of shades and I think it's fantastic value for money!

GOSH 9 Shades Eyeshadow Palette - To Party In London swatches!

GOSH Eye Shadow Primer* (1.4g, £8.99, link), GOSH Growth Serum Brows (6ml, £16.99, link) and GOSH Brow Shape & Fill* (0.5g, £8.99, link)

I was excited to try the new GOSH Eye Shadow Primer as I've been on the hunt for a budget-friendly alternative to replace my beloved Urban Decay Primer Potion. This one comes packaged in a chunky stick format and features a sponge tip applicator at the other end. The sponge tip is much too hard and stiff to work with, but the primer stick itself is really not bad at all and it's easy to blend it over the lids with just the warmth of your finger. It's great for creating a base for eyeshadow and helps to even out any discolouration, but I found that my eyeshadow began to crease after 5-6 hours, so it's OK for a night out, but not ideal for all day wear if you have oily lids like I do.

For brows, GOSH has a new Growth Serum which aims to give you thicker and fuller brows with daily use. It's not the kind of product that I need for my own brows, but if want yours to be thicker, this might be worth a try.

What I have been impressed with though is GOSH's Brow Shape & Fill which is an incredibly useful 2-in-1 pencil and powder product. One end has a brilliant skinny brow pencil for defining and drawing in tiny hairs, and the other end has a soft powder for filling in any gaps. I have the shade Grey Brown which is a perfect match for my brows and it gives a really natural looking finish. Love it!

GOSH Brow Shape & Fill in Grey Brown 002

GOSH Lumi Drops in 012 Rosegold* (15ml, £7.99, link) 

I've sung the praises of GOSH's Lumi Drops in the past, so I was pleased to see that they've released two brand new shades in this popular range. Lumi Drops are basically liquid highlighters, blushers and bronzers, depending on what shade you pick up. I have one of the new ones in Rosegold which is a beautiful peachy-rose liquid blusher with a gold shimmer which is very pretty and glowy on the cheeks - a drop or two is all you need to use!

GOSH Lift & Highlight in 001 Nude* (2.9g, £9.99, link)

This clever Lift & Highlight duo-pencil is a makeup bag must-have and can be used in various ways to lift, define and highlight different areas of the face. It features a matte nude coloured pencil on one end, and a shimmery light-reflective pencil on the other. Use the matte end under the brow bones to lift, or if it matches your skin-tone, it can also double up as a concealer. The shimmery end can then be used to highlight and brighten the inner eye corner and the cupid's bow for a quick and easy finishing touch.

GOSH Strobe 'N' Glow Kit in 001 Highlight* (20g, £12.99, link)

As far as highlighting palettes go, this newbie from GOSH is one of the best budget makeup buys that I've come across all year. In the Strobe 'N' Glow Kit you get four huge pans of different highlighter shades (a whopping 20g of product in total!), and the quality is amazing. Featuring three gorgeous golden light-to-bronze shades, the kit also has an interesting pink based holographic highlighter colour for something different to play with. Each shade feels silky soft with a light creamy texture, and they all blend beautifully. This kit is a fantastic way to try out a bunch of new highlighters, all in one handy palette, and these really do pop on the skin!

GOSH Strobe 'N' Glow Kit in 001 Highlight and GOSH Lift & Highlight in 001 Nude - swatches!

GOSH AW17 Collection now available exclusively at Superdrug, in stores nationwide and online at superdrug.com.

Have you tried any of the new GOSH A/W Collection?

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Budget Beauty: GOSH SS17 Collection: Liquid Matte Lips, CCC Sticks, Eye Xpression Quad, Lumi Drops, Infinity Eyeliners & Giant Pro Liners- Review & Swatches

Happy Friday! The weekend is almost upon us, and if you're heading to the high street tomorrow, you might want to pop into Superdrug to get your hands on some of these shiny new makeup releases from GOSH's latest SS17 collection.

If you're after affordable, on-trend makeup, GOSH have got you covered. Their range is quite frankly enormous and they're always releasing exciting brand new products. I've raved about several of their products before, but I particularly love their Rebel Eyes Mascara (which was one of my favourite budget makeup finds of last year), and they do some wicked Forever Matt Eyeshadow Sticks, as well as a fab range of primers, lippies and eyeliners.

Their latest SS17 collection is inspired by Nordic/Danish beauty (the brand are based in Copenhagen) and the 'urban nature' landscape, mixing in earthy tones with stronger, empowering, rebellious brights. Like all of GOSH's previous collections, this one's also very trend based, so if you're looking to update your makeup look/bag for Spring, you're in the right place!

GOSH Liquid Matte Lips* (4ml, £8.99 each, link)

Matte lips are a trend that continues to reign over all other lip products at the moment, and like many, I've found myself adding more and more of these kinds of products to my makeup stash. Whilst I do enjoy a matte lip, I definitely favour formulas which are a lot less drying and GOSH have managed to do an excellent job with these as they're infused with 'LIPerfection' (an Eco-cert formula based on Mustard Sprouts to plump and hydrate the lips), plus they contain extracts of Dandelion which is known for being high in vitamins and antioxidants. 

The texture of these Liquid Matte Lips has an almost whipped-creme consistency to them, and they're highly pigmented so it only takes one or two swipes to get a smooth and even coat onto the lips. They don't dry down to a hard, dry matte finish, though, but I'd still say they're pretty matte overall and would be a good one to try if you don't like the intensely drying feel of other matte lip products. 

There are eight shades available and I received six of them to try out - all of which I've found to be long-lasting (around 6-7 hours on me), before fading evenly. My favourite shades for everyday are Nougat Fudge and Candyfloss, and Arabian Night is an amazing colour to opt for if you want a killer vampy dark lip for a night out!

GOSH Liquid Matte Lips swatches

GOSH Eye Xpression in 001 Back To Nature* (£8.99, link)

For a convenient compact eyeshadow quad to throw into your makeup bag or use for a neutral look every day, GOSH's new Eye Xpression in Back To Nature has everything you need for a fuss-free, easy look. These eyeshadows are super soft and silky, easy to blend and work with, and they have great pigmentation. The formula is perfume and paraben free, and each quad contains a shimmery highlight shade alongside three straight-up matte colours. In the SS17 collection, you'll find three new quads including this one.

This combination Back To Nature has a gorgeous pale pink with a golden shimmer, a light neutral brown with pink undertones, a classic medium taupe brown and a dark brown with a red undertone. All of the shades work well together, but if I find myself in a rush, I'll just sweep on that classic taupe shade all over the lid and I'm good to go! The only slight bugbear that I have with this quad (and the GOSH eyeshadow palettes in general) is that the eyeshadow pans are completely 'flat' within the plastic casing of the quad, so the outside edges of each pan can get quite messy with regular use.

GOSH Eye Xpression in 001 Back To Nature swatches

GOSH Lumi Drops in 010 Coral Blush* (15ml, £8.99, link)

GOSH's Lumi Drops are a really cool range of multi-purpose, illuminating liquid products that you can mix with your regular foundation or use on their own for a glowy highlight. Thanks to the popularity of these, GOSH have now released two new illuminating liquid blushers and they are surprisingly really easy to use. You only need a drop for each cheek and as you blend them, they sheer out into the prettiest, natural looking flush with a subtle, glowy shimmer. I have the shade Coral Blush which looks quite bright in the bottle, but once applied, it's actually very wearable and a great choice for Spring to give you an instantly fresh and awake look.

GOSH Lumi Drops in 010 Coral Blush swatches

GOSH Infinity Eye Liners in 001 Black and 006 Ash (1.2g, £6.99 each, link)

Eyeliners are something that GOSH do exceptionally well and I feel they are seriously underrated as I hardly ever see anyone talking about them! I'm sure that's set to change though with the launch of several new eyeliners, including these. The Infinity Eye Liners are wax-based, classic pencil liners that come with a smudger on the end for easy smoking out. They're long-lasting, smudge-proof, waterproof and can be used happily in the waterline (I find these are great for tight-lining with too).

There are six shades available and I've been enjoying playing with Black and Ash as both are creamy and smooth (no dragging here!), and richly pigmented. An absolute steal for only £6.99 and definitely some of the best affordable eyeliners out there. 

GOSH Giant Pro Double Liner* (£10.99, link) & GOSH Giant Pro Kajal* (£7.49, link)

If you like your liners to be big and chunky but with slim tapered tips, these two from GOSH will be right up your street. I have to admit that I didn't initially warm to these when I first saw them. The first thought that went through my mind was that they were just too big, but oddly enough, they're both comfortable and easy to hold.

The Giant Pro Double Liner is a makeup bag must-have as it boasts a liquid liner on one end and a kajal on the other. The tip of the liquid liner is nice and pointed so you can achieve a fine, sharp line easily, and the inky formula sets quickly, doesn't smudge and it's a strong, deep black. The kajal liner has a lovely smooth and creamy feel about it, and again it's highly pigmented and long-lasting. You can create a lot of different looks with this double liner and I love the 2-in-1 convenience of having a liquid liner to use on the top for a quick cat flick, and a kajal liner to use on the waterline for a smokey eye finish.

I was expecting the Giant Pro Kajal to be the same formula as the one in the Double Liner that I've just mentioned, but no, it's definitely different as it has a much richer and glossier finish. Again, this one's easy to work with, long-lasting, can be used on the waterline and delivers a strong black line for a bold look.   

New GOSH SS17 Eyeliner swatches

GOSH CCC Sticks* (4.4g, £9.99 each, link)

I imagine these multi-purpose CCC sticks will be one of the big sellers from this new collection, and they're pretty damn good. CCC stands for 'Contour, Cover, Conceal' which literally sums up what they do. The texture of these are really creamy and the crayon nature of the sticks makes them a doddle to apply. I'd highly recommend these for newbies to contouring as they give you a lot more control over where the product is going than a palette and a brush offers. Due to their creamy consistency, they're easy to blend and have a sort of 'soft focus' finish to them which gives a subtle blurring effect.

There are six shades currently available; two highlighting shades and four concealing and contouring colours to suit a range of different skin tones. I'm usually a 'Light Beige' in most foundation and concealer ranges (though sometimes a little lighter or darker depending on the time of the year), and I've been mostly using Light underneath my eyes to conceal dark circles, Medium to conceal any blemishes or marks, and Dark as a contour shade to give some definition to my cheekbones (Very Dark looks a bit too muddy on me, but may work in the summer when I'm more tanned). 

I've also been getting a lot of use out of the two highlighter shades as Vanilla is a great all-rounder for the inner corner of my eyes and on the top of my cheeks, whereas the Golden Highlighter looks good on my cheeks instead of using a blusher. Needless to say, I like these lot!

GOSH CCC Sticks swatches

The GOSH SS17 Collection is exclusively available at Superdrug, both instores nationwide and online via superdrug.com

What do you think of this collection?

Anything you'd like to pick up and try?

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