Sleek iLust Eyeshadow Palette Review

I hope everyone has had an amazing week so far. I have been having exams all through this week so I have hardly had any time for this blog. Let's just say January has been pretty filled with so many school deadlines but I would be back fully by next week,  so not long now. Although I am not posting as often on here, I do post on my Instagram (@Fashstyleliv) and I share many lovely photos that never make it on here. I picked up the Sleek iLust Eyeshadow last year which was launched in their Gold Standard collection. I can't remember where I saw it, probably on Instagram and I told myself it needs to be mine. First off, Sleek Makeup have one of the best pigmentations when it comes to drug store eyeshadows. I already knew this palette would be amazing even without swatching it. 

Packaging
The packaging is quite really cute and compact which I really like because it is so handy. It is slightly smaller than all the other regular Sleek Eyeshadow palettes but I absolutely love.  I hardly ever have to touch up my eyeshadow at all but if I did, this would be the perfect size for on-the-go makeup and would fit well in my makeup bag. Also, if you are the type that does your makeup on the train, you would love this palette and its size.  It comes with a dual ended brush which I have thrown away because I just have no use for them. I wish makeup companies either make good quality brushes to go with the palette or just add more product to the eyeshadow palette and save space.  I have to mention that it is slightly difficult to open compared to the other Sleek eyeshadow palettes although it may just be this particular one I have. Other than that, I can't think of anything else about the packaging but I really like it.


Contents of the Palette
The contents of this eyeshadow palette makes me so happy because it contains all the shades I love but that's not all!! It also contains both cream and powder eyeshadows and I am super pleased about this. It also means that you do not need a primer because I find that the cream eyeshadow acts as a good base and prevents creasing while the powder eyeshadow sets it all in place. The palette contains 6 eyeshadows including four powder eyeshadow and 2 cream eyeshadows. I love how the eyeshadows are arranged beside each other as the colours are very complementary. If you are a beginner, you would find this arrangement handy and it makes it easy to apply.


Shades included and Swatches
As already mentioned, they are six eyeshadows in the palette and I do think it is a good number for the price of the eyeshadow. Many people have compared it to the Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow palette but I have not tried it yet so I can't really comment. However, I can see why because they do look quite similar. I also like that the shades have individual names however they are not inscribed on the palette itself except on a film paper protecting the eyeshadow palette.  The shades include: Laurent, Coco, Margiela, Vera, Louis and Vivienne. I really like these names and I just wish they were inscribed on the palette itself!!




Laurent-  A beautiful Deep Plum shade which has some lovely shimmer in it. It can be used on the outer corners your eyes and also a lid shade for smoky look.
Coco- A lovely Copper Gold shade which I was very excited to try because I thought it would be a good dupe for MAC's Amber Light. I was wrong as it just comes up as a regular gold shade on my lids but I do like it.
Margiela- This cream eyeshadow makes me so happy because it is pretty. It is a Light Bronze Metallic shade and I am really impressed with the formula of these cream eyeshadows in this palette. They feel super light on the lids and they don't crease at all. Margiela reminds me of Maybelline's On and On Bronze (Bad to the Bronze).
Vera- It's so funny that I had very little expectations of Vera but it is one of my favourite eyeshadows in this palette. It is a Champagne Gold shade which looks super flattering on my lids. I really like it and it works well with all the cream eyeshadows in this palette.
Louis- I have to admit I don't use a lot of Louis on my lids but it works well with some of the other powder eyeshadows in this palette (and other palettes). I would describe it as a Champagne Rose shade and it does have some glitter in it but it's not too noticeable.
Vivenne- This shade was definitely made for Louis because they work so well when combined together. I would describe Vivenne as an almost  Metallic Silver shade but I think it may be more of a Champagne shade depending on your complexion.


Price// Link
I was really impressed with the price of this palette and I thought it may be expensive. It's only £7.49 which is such an incredible value for money and I would definitely recommend it. Generally, Sleek Makeup products are not expensive but I am really surprised at the price of this palette. I have not seen it in my local Boots store lately but it is still available online. I also think Sleek is doing a 2 for £10 deal on their makeup products in Boots which is insane so do check them out.

Cons
I can't think of any cons about this palette except that this particular palette is slightly more difficult for me to open compared to the other Sleek Makeup Eyeshadow palettes I own. I already mentioned that it may just be this particular palette but do let me know if you have experience the same. On the other hand, it also means it won't get messy if you travel with it.


Overall Thoughts
I have to say this is definitely one of my favourite palettes from Sleek Makeup and I am very, very impressed with it. I love it because you can create quite a few looks with it. The only thing is there is no crease colour except you want to use the darkest shade as one (it does not look the best on my though). However, I don't think this palette was created to stand on its own per say but I think you can get away with just using this palette alone (maybe a light hand on the dark shade for the crease). I hope you enjoyed this post and I am keen to hear your thoughts on this palette. Have you tried the Sleek iLust Eyeshadow Palette?
Affiliate Link used, read my full disclaimer here.

Makeup Revolution Haul

I feel like I have been away for ages when it has only been less than a week. I just decided to take a teeny weeny break and just relax over the bank holiday weekend. I hope you had a lovely weekend (and bank holiday if you are in the UK). It has been a minute since I did a Makeup Revolution Haul in fact my last one was last year over here. I featured some of these products in my drug store haul but I though this was the best time to review them in depth as I have tested them out for a little while. I am sure everyone and their dogs and cats must have heard about Makeup Revolution especially if you live in the UK. They literally took the blogging and makeup world by a storm. I love their products because they are good quality and affordable and mostly, I love how innovative they are. They make several dupes for other high end brands which is really impressive. I thought I may as well give myself a little treat especially as Superdrug was having a 3 for 2 offer which is one of my favourite offers in the drug store. I picked up the Makeup Revolution Ultra Brow Kit, Makeup Revolution Mermaids vs Unciorns Eyeshadow Palette and the Makeup Revolution Double Flick Eyeliner.


Packaging
I am really impressed with Makeup Revolution packaging because they are all so sleek and sturdy. I honestly don't understand how they have such good packaging and good quality products and still manage to keep the prices super affordable. Although some of the packaging looks slightly bulky, I find them easy to travel with because they are slim and fit well into my luggage. They also shut securely so there are no accidents at all. I travel at least once a month so I am always keen to have makeup products with good packaging as they are the only ones that come with me in my carry-on luggage..







Makeup Revolution Ultra Brow Palette//£7.99//Link
I already had the Makeup Revolution Brow Kit which I purchased last year and I have enjoyed using it but I just wanted something with more products to play with.  I had read a few reviews for the Ultra Brow Palette and I thought it would be a nice addition to my kit. I figured I could use some of the brow shadows as eyeshadows, particularly as crease colours, if they don't work well on my brows. I love how much products you get in the palette as they are very versatile and can work well on various skin tones especially if you are a makeup artist. I chose the shade Medium-Dark because I have darker skin and the colours inside seemed to look more appropriate for my skin tone. In the palette, you get the following- Two Eyebrow Gels/Wax, Four Eyebrow Powders, an Eyebrow Arch Enhancing Cream and a one Powder Highlighter.






You also get a Brow Pencil (for outlining) and some tools (brushes and tweezers). I never really have any much use for these tools so I always bin them. I love the combination of products because they will always work with any kind of brow look you are going for. I only actually use the darker eyebrow gel and the darkest brow powder. The highlighters are way too light for me although I think I may try one as an eyeshadow base to see if it would help my eyeshadows pop (Update: Nopes, it did not work out at all). However, I like the eyebrow pencil which is dark enough to outline my brows (hallelujah!!). I still plan on using the other eyebrow powders as eyeshadows although they have a little bit of fall outs which is slightly frustrating. All in all, I think it is a great brow palette especially at the price of £7.99 and I have not seen anything similar with the same price.





Makeup Revolution Eyeshadow Palette Mermaids vs Unicorn Palette//£4// Link
If you saw my recent Spring Makeup Essentials post, you would have seen that I have now reignited my love for eyeshadow paletttes with bright colours. I saw this lovely Makeup Revolution Mermaids vs Unicorns Palette in Superdrug and I knew we would have such an amazing time together. It has more cooler eyeshadow colours than warm bright spring ones but I still like it a lot. In this palette, you would find various shades of green, blue, purple, pink and greys which makes it perfect for both sunny and autumnal weathers. I find that it would go really well with other warmer eyeshadow palettes in my collection. As with many Makeup Revolution Eyeshadows, they are well pigmented and the colour pay off on the eye lids is quite impressive. I find that this palette has some fallout which is not uncommon with some Makeup Revolution Eyeshadows I have tried in the past. However, I don't think this is too much of a problem because it can be mitigated by using the eyeshadows wet and/or tapping off any excess eyeshadow from the brush before application. I love to use eyeshadows wet because it also intensifies their pigmentation and helps them adhere better to the eyelids.




Most Makeup Revolution Eyeshadows I have tried have really good pigmentation and this one is no exception especially with the array of colours in the palette. I know the bright colours in this eyeshadow palette may not be everyone's cup of tea because they are quite bright but they do complement each other and you don't have to use all the colours. Besides, life is too short to use only neutral eyeshadow shades you know. It's always good to experiment as I am pretty sure some colours look good on some people and not on others; you just have to find what works for you. Although I got this palette to do more Spring Inspired Tutorials, I feel it would serve me well into Autumn because it has such lovely jewel tone colours. I really enjoy using this palette although I have to mention the glitter coupled with the fallouts could be a little annoying. I find that even using the eyeshadows wet has little effect on reducing the glitter but I guess that's the style of the palette.

Awesome Double Flick Eye liner//£3.50// Link
Let's just say I am an eyeliner junkie and I can't be without my eye liner. Even if I don't have any sensible makeup on, I always have to have my eye liner. I feel it defines my eyes and gives them some character.  L'Oreal Eye Liners are my Holy Grail Mascaras and I have used the for ages. I feel they are the best in the drug store and my absolute favourites. However, that has not stopped me from giving other brands a chance hence why I picked up the Makeup Revolution Double Flick Eye liner. The fact that it was double ended was the selling point for me as it is versatile and you can achieve various looks with it. It has a thin end which can be used for more precise cat eye flicks and there's the thicker end which can be used for thicker cat flicks. I think it is a great eyeliner however it does not last as long as my L'Oreal Eye liners or even the Collection Extreme Eyeliner which is pretty sad. I find that it smudged really easily which is such a no-no for me. I am not sure if it's the fault of my sensitive eyes or may be my application. I will give it another go and report back on how I feel about it. I actually really like it and I honestly wish it applied and lasted better. I will try and change my technique to see if there is any chance for improvement.  However, for the price and the double ended side, I think it's really good value for money.

Overall Thoughts

I really like all my picks from Makeup Revolution and I have picked up a few more items since this haul or since when I took these photos so watch out for more reviews. It's hard to choose which product was my favourite from this haul but I am inclined to choose the Mermaids vs Unicorns Eyeshadow Palette (silly name aside). I feel really excited when I look at the colours and it makes me want to experiment more with colours. That's pretty much all from me. What's your favourite Makeup Revolution Product?...xx

Holy Grail Makeup (Drugstore)

I recently published a post on my Holy Grail High End Makeup  and I was delighted to see that many of those products were also your favourites. So, I thought it was time to share my Holy Grail Drugstore products. As mentioned in that post, I classify products as Holy Grail if I have repurchased them, have backups or reach for them consistently through the week. I have quite a collection of beauty products but these Holy Grail products leave me coming back for more....


L'Oreal True Match Foundation//Link
Of course, this had to be the first product on the list. This was the first foundation I picked up when I was writing this post. I just love everything about it. It is lightweight with medium-full coverage. It is also long lasting although you need to use a primer and set with a powder. I really don't mind doing this at all. It is perfect as an everyday foundation and it's one I reach for when I am not using my NARS Foundation. It's also under £10 so you can't go wrong at all. I have a review here.


Rimmel Lasting Finish Primer//Link
This is a new entrant and I can say hand on my heart that it has quickly climbed to be my favourite drugstore primer. I find it really hard to find a good primer in the drug store and I only got this because it was on offer. I now wish I purchased a few back ups. It goes on really well although it comes off as a thick cream/lotion but it gets absorbed really well. It really does what it says and that's simply helping my foundation last much longer. It is definitely a staple and I have used it with a variety of foundations.

Revlon Colorstay Concealer in Deep Fonce//Link
I don't think I have tried any concealer that combines the right coverage with right texture. I absolutely love it. I use this mainly as my under eye concealer because it feels ever so light. It does not crease at all and I just love it so much. I feel it is very underrated in the drug store but it is seriously amazing. I don't think it fares really well as a blemish concealer because it doedn't offer as much coverage. I reserve it exclusively for under my eyes. I actually purchased a back up already because it is that amazing!! I have a review here.

Maybelline Color Tattoos//Link

I personally don't think any cream eyeshadow will come close to the quality of these Maybelline babies. They come in a variety of shades and you would definitely find one you like. They work well as a base for eyeshadows or on their own and the pigmentation is incredible. I don't have the entire collection but I recently added a few more shades which I had been eyeing. They are easy to blend, well pigmented, long lasting and affordable. I have not experienced any drying at all. My favourite shade is the On-and-On Bronze which I use a lot. I have a full review with swatches on this collection here


Sleek Blush in Sahara//Link
This is my all time favourite blush and I think this may even be my second or third pan. It's just one I reach for so often because it looks really flattering on my skin tone. It goes on so well and I always use it with a light hand because it is very pigmented. I recently started using it as an eyeshadow particularly for my crease and it's incredible. It warms up my crease really well. I am just obsessed with it and I use it everyday.


L'Oreal Super Slim Eyeliner//Link
I have also raved about this over here a few times because I absolutely love it. I have tried a few drug store eyeliner brands but none comes close to the L'Oreal Super Slim Eyeliner. It is a felt tip pen with a really pointy tip which is easy to control and gives a lovely wing and flick if you prefer. It is really black, long lasting and does not smudge once it sets. I have a feeling that L'Oreal is playing up with the formula but I hope it is just my imagination because I love it so much. It has been repurchased countless times.


Soap and Glory Brow Filling Pencil//Link
After I tried the Anastasia Brow Wiz, I just kept wishing the drug store will create a lovely dupe and my prayers were answered! Soap and Glory launched their Brow Filling 2-in-1 Pencil and I tried it and fell heads over heels in love. It is so similar to the Anastasia Brow Wiz and I have already spoken about them here. The pencil itself is not as soft as the ABH Brow Wiz but it gives off really good pigmentation for a drug store brand. It can be rolled up and down. My shade is Hot Chocolate and I am so pleased it suits me because there are only two shades.


Makeup Revolution Baked Bronzer (Rock on World) //Link
I don't think I have spoken at length about this Bronzer but it is seriously amazing. I use it as soft bronzed blush because it has some slight glitter. It has been compared to MAC Gold Deposit and I have not tried it though so I can't comment. However, it gives such a beautiful bronzed gold colour to my face especially when I feel my foundation is a bit dull. I have been using this a lot recently because the days are getting warmer and I am enjoying the sun kissed look this Bronzer gives me. It is very pigmented so a light hand is very much needed. It's indeed such a beautiful bronzer especially at its affordable price.

Sleek Face Form/Sleek Contour Kit//Link
I don't think I need to talk so much about this because it has been featured on here a couple of times. I have not tried any other powder contour at all because this just works for me. I have gone through a least two or three palettes and I will always repurchase, The contour section is incredibly pigmented as expected with Sleek Makeup but it blends out really easily as well. It is always important to use a light hand and build it up as you go along. It is really ideal for beginners and you honestly can't go wrong with it at all. I don't really care so much for the highlighter bit in the palette but I guess it's not bad that it's included to balance out things. I have a review here. 

Maybelline Color Drama Velvet Lip Pencils//Link
I actually should have included the Maybelline Lip Glosses (review here) as well but I wanted to keep this really short. The Maybelline Color Drama Velvet Lip Pencils (review here) are my all time favourites and I have got a few backups as well. They are really pigmented and go on so well on the lips although the lighter/nude colours do not apply as smoothly as the brighter coloured ones. Nevertheless, they are one of my absolute favourite lip products. Once they are applied, they last a really long while even after I eat/drink. I particularly love how affordable they are and they have a wide range to choose from.

Makeup Revolution Eyeshadow, L'Oreal La Palette Nude (Link) and Sleek Eyeshadow Palettes
I think these eyeshadows are definitely my favourite from the drug store. The Sleek Eyeshadow Palettes definitely has the best pigmentation of the lot and I love how there is a wide range to choose from. The Makeup Revolution Hot Smoked Palette is perfect for Autumn/Winter looks. My current holy grail neutral palette is definitely the L'Oreal Palette Nude Beige (review here). It does not have the best pigmentation compared to the other two but the mix of colours makes it really handy for creating simple neutral looks. I find my self reaching for it on a daily basis for simple looks. It's a really good palette to start with.


Overall Thoughts
I definitely love my drug store products and I am very pleased that drug stores are improving their quality by the day. They are always releasing new products and I always feel excited going into Boots or Superdrug (although not the best for my wallet). I hope you enjoyed my holy grail drug store picks. What's your holy grail drug store product?
*Affiliate links may be used above, read my full disclaimer here.