This product is much raved about, but it hasn't really been available in the UK until very recently - and then Cult Beauty and BeautyBay both got it in stock.
Having never ordered from BeautyBay before, my default position was to go to Cult Beauty, but when I had a look into it BeautyBay actually had a much wider selection of brands, so I ended up ordering from there and picking up a few other items I'd been lusting after.
A word on the ordering process, which was smooth and lovely. I carried the whole thing out on my iPhone, and their mobile site is very easy to navigate. They also use PayPal, which is much more likely to make me order - no running around to retrieve my debit card numbers!
To my delight, I got a 15% 'payday' discount (yippee!) which saved me some pennies, the delivery was next-day and free (although I ordered on a Saturday and it didn't arrive until Tuesday) and I also got sent a deluxe sample - you can choose from a selection - so I was a very happy bunny indeed. I'll definitely be returning!
So, what did I order?
Anastasia Beverley Hills Dipbrow Pomade
Dark Brown
This was the item I'd been desperate to get my hands on! I'm all about the brows and if I don't get them right, it can quite literally throw my whole day off.
I don't really change up what I use on them, and for years now, I've used Mac Charcoal Brown shadow with an angled liner brush to fill them in and a clear mascara to set them. Before that I used Benefit Browzings for years.
Lately, a couple of new brow innovations had caught my eye - this, and Benefit's Gimme Brow. But after reading numerous glowing reviews about the Dipbrow Pomade I decided to go for it and see if this will become my latest must-have.
So, did it deliver?
-Creamy formula adheres to the brow hairs. It's superblendable but once its set, that's it - it's not going to budge.
-Perfect for oily skin and humid climates, which appeals to me with summer holidays coming up. I look naked without my brows, so I'm pleased that I won't have to go without just because I'm at the beach. The last thing anyone needs are smudged brows.
-Waterproof which means, again, that holidays or errant rainclouds won't have to be feared
-Can also be used as an eyeliner - the creamy texture is easy to apply and in this dark colour, its a perfect two in one for a quick daytime fix.
I was worried about blind ordering the on the shade. My hair is dark brown so I chose that shade but I was a little wary about it being too dark - if anything I prefer to go a half a shade lighter on my brows as it looks less severe. But I needn't have worried, its a great match.
It's very easy to go overboard with this product, so you really only need to use a tiny amount. I still feel a little cack-handed with it, like I'm not getting the shape as good as my powder shadow, and I think that's down to it being so easy to overdo it!
I've been dipping my brush in, outlining the lower edge and outer tails and then using the leftover residue to do the inner corners so they look more natural and blended in. I can see why people love this, but I think it's going to take me a little more practice before being 100% confident with it.
Anastasia Beverley Hills Duo Brow and Liner Brush
Figuring that if I was going to do this, I'd do it right, I also purchased the 'proper' brush to go with my Dipbrow Pomade.
This has a blunt-cut head, which is actually different from the angled liner brushes I already own and has synthetic bristles, which are better for use with cream products.
It also has a spoolie on the other end which you can use to comb through the brows and make them look softened and more natural. This is the finished result (apologies for my puffy eyes, I got flu yesterday, wouldn't you know.)
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
This has been on my 'want list' for quite a while now. Even though I have other UD palettes, this appealed to me because it has all the shades for my perfect 'everyday' eye.
Much as I love experimenting with products, I also have a set go-to make-up look which I pop on quickly for everyday, sometimes changing up the lip or eye colours.
Usually it goes like this - light shade on the lids, mid-taupe crease colour, black over the top of my liquid liner to set it. If I'm feeling especially fancy, sometimes I work a darker shade onto the outer wing.
This little palette appealed because it has all of those every day essentials shades all together, and anything that saves time in the morning appeals.
I'm also a bit of a hoarder of 'Naked' items and seem to be steadily collecting them all, so this slipped into the basket before I knew it. All of these colours are matte - I would have preferred one shimmer in there, but it's still gorgeous. I sometimes think the matte UD shades don't have the lasting power of the shimmery ones, but these are all pretty good.
The compact is that gorgeous rose-gold colour that's a UD trademark and features a mirror in the lid. This is so portable and is perfect for times when you don't want to take the bulkier Naked palette tins with you.
The shades inside are:
- Venus – A semi-matte off-white tone that's perfect for highlighting
- Foxy – A yellow toned ivory with a matte finish - this is my most-used shade from the UD Naked palettes
- Walk Of Shame – A pale cream with pink tones (previously exclusive to the Build Your Own Palette).
- Naked 2 – A pink nude with grey tones.
- Faint – A light brown matte with red and charcoal undertones, new and exclusive
- Crave – A deep, dark brown that is almost black, new and exclusive
DuWop Primer Venom
Of course, I'd heard about DuWop's infamous 'Lip Venom', a lip-plumping formula said to be the favourite of many a Hollywood starlet. But I'd never tried it.
When I saw their line on BeautyBay, they seem to have diversified the original product into a range of different applications, and I was drawn to this one.
It contains the formula in a balm, instead of the traditional gloss, and can be worn on its own or under any lip colour to boost your pout. It does double duty as a lip conditioner and a plumper, so I liked that (me and my thing for any product that multi-tasks!).
It helps lipstick to glide on and claims to make it last longer as well - I'll have to report back on that one as I haven't worn it for any length of time yet.
The formula includes Macadamia Nut Oil to nourish and condition and the DuWop plumping blend of Cinnamon, Wintergreen and Ginger - this encourages blood flow to the surface of lips, hence the pouty effect.
I liked the grey metallic tube this came in and the fact its a pumping product but without being shiny like most of the glosses on offer. It also means I can add on a plumping effect to any lipstick in my collection, so its certainly versatile.
St Tropez Prep & Maintain Tan Enhancing Moisturiser
Now I'm certainly not a regular fake tanner, sometimes, very occaisionally I do - but I usually use a wash off formula rather than a permanent one. This body cream says its:
- For a tan that lasts longer and fades more evenly
- This moisturiser guarantees self-tanning results
- Reduces tan break-up and improves fade
- Leaves skin velvety soft and smooth
And that was my order - have you ordered from BeautyBay before?
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