Mini MAC Haul

It was my 21st birthday on April 16 and to celebrate, I met up with my mum in Manchester. Although I had asked for money towards a car, I decided to spend a little bit of it. I hadn't tried a new makeup product for a while and with summer round the corner, I felt I needed a seasonal uplift. My Auntie had booked me in at MAC to have a makeover and then receive store credit to spend on anything I liked.

The first thing I wanted was a more bronzey blush as I always opt for those which are matte and orange-based. The above photo makes me look quite tanned but don't let it fool you - there isn't even a hint of sunkissed colour in my cheeks. I went for Cheeky Bronze which I actually have found works as a highlighter if lightly applied. The product lasts all day without using a setting spray or powder and the colour is really beautiful and rather natural despite the shimmer.

When I picked this, the lady also told me I could use it as a bronzer but I much prefer a natural, matte bronzer which isn't too dissimilar to my natural skin colour. It was £23, but as I don't wear makeup everyday it will last me a long time. I'm not into the whole Kardashian contour look. In fact, I'm not so sure I even suit it... Which leads me on to my next purchase.

I picked up one of the natural mineralise skinfinish powders in the colour Medium Golden. Again, this was £23 but should last me a while unless I get a little brush-happy and annihilate it.  It sets my foundation beautifully and I've even used it as a light bronzer to add slight colour to my cheeks when I'm not wearing a base.

The next few products are (surprise, surprise) for my lips.

I was actually bought these as a gift from my stepsisters. The first is a Cremesheen lipstick in the colour Pure Zen. It cost £15.50 (I looked it up).

I'm sorry for the bad picture - it isn't metallic like the picture below looks but it does have the slightest shimmer which looks far more like a glossy shine.

Pure Zen is actually a frosty, warm-toned nude. The Cremesheen lipsticks have a rich creamy texture and a great colour payoff. 

The next colour is MAC Red from the Satin collection. Again, this was £15.50. I have never bought a Satin but I definitely would now I have tried it. MAC Red is a blueish-red shade and semi-matte. It lasts longer than the Cremesheen but not quite as long as the Retro Mattes. It doesn't bleed into the skin around your lips - an issue I often have.

The final thing in the haul is a £12.50 lip liner in the shade Redd. It goes perfectly with the MAC Red lipstick (above). It's super long-lasting and helps the lipstick to stay on for longer. I usually fill in my entire lip as well as lining the outside just to keep it on longer and help the colour pop.

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Streak || Review

Managed to get my hands on this little baby! 

I believe this colour (along with two others) doesn't come out in the UK until the end of the month but I could be wrong. I know you can definitely get them in the States.

This is the Urban Decay Naked Flushed palette in the colour Streak. It's £22 for 0.49oz. I always like to look at prices from a student budget, and I think this is totally affordable!

You get a bronzer, highlighter and blush in one palette. If I were to buy all three products individually, it would cost me at least double so I found this to be a bargain.

The palette comes in a soft coppery/rosy coloured, plastic case. It isn't metallic like the Naked 2 and Naked 3 palettes. If you've seen the original Flushed palette, then it's the same as that. The lid opens and shuts easily and it has a very slight magnetic pull to it to keep it shut in your makeup bag.

The original Naked Flushed palette is now called "Naked". For those that don't know, it contains a medium shade satin bronzer, a pale pink champagne-ish highlighter and a rose satin blush.

The other two new palettes are called Native (medium bronzer with a shimmer in it, a pale pink highlighter and a bright pink, matte blush which is super pigmented) and Strip (darkest bronzer of the palettes, a beautiful golden highlighter and a deep mauve, matte blush).

Bronzer: The Streak palette has the lightest shade bronzer so it's ideal for my pale skin and helps me achieve that natural look that I aim for. It's matte but on closer inspection, there is the slightest shimmer. This was another selling point for me. I like everything in matte. I don't mind a shimmer highlighter, of course, but I like everything else to be matte.

Highlighter: The palette contains a peachy highlighter which blends so beautifully with the blush. It's super shimmery and gorgeous.

Blush: I don't think I suit bright pink blush so I usually opt for corals or peachy shades (not orange though). As you can see below, this palette contains a coral-y blush which was 100% the biggest selling point for me. It also has a matte finish. What more could I want?!

You can blend the different parts together or put them on individually to create different looks. I chose Streak over the others because I think it suits my skin tone best. I don't like blushers which are too pink so this peachy colour really won me over as it isn't too orange or too pink. The trio isn't too powdery so it looks as natural as possible which is perfect for me.

Disclaimer: This review is 100% me. I BOUGHT this product. Urban Decay did not send it to me. The lady at a makeup counter brought me one from the back. I will not say which city/town I bought this in as I do not want her to get in trouble for selling me something too early. I always go to her when I want Urban Decay products - this is why she sold it to me.