Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Dupe?

I think we're all familiar with Bobbi Brown's gorgeous range of make up, and especially the best selling and so popular Shimmer Brick compact. I've wanted one of the shimmer bricks for a long time now, but at £32, and having other products in my collection that are similar, it's stopped me from running out and purchasing. 

The compact pictured here is in the colour 'Bronze' which I've always preferred as it has the prettiest mix of browns, reds, but still has the lighter colours. These compacts really do have the most gorgeous shimmer to them, and look so pretty on a night out and are perfect for popping in your handbag.

I was out shopping with my friend in Sheffield, when I came across a brand I hadn't seen before in Superdrug called 'Famous'. I've never seen this in the Manchester store, and it has such a great range of products for reasonable prices. I saw a range of shimmer bricks, under the brand 'Shining Star'.

All the compacts are named after lady pop icons. I got mine (which I couldn't help picturing in the lovely snow) in the shade 'Lady Shimmer', presumably after Lady Gaga. You can also pick these up in Mariah, Rihanna and Beyonce. Anyway, a quick swatch in store told me that this product gave the most gorgeous shimmer and was very highly pigmented. I also love that the compact has a mirror, perfect for taking on nights out.

The great thing about this product is the price. They are normally £6.49, which is great, but I picked this up in the sale when it was just £3.24! Amazing!

You can view all this range in certain Superdrug stores, or online on the Famous website. I love this compact and will definitely be trying a few more items from the line soon.

As for whether it's a true dupe of the Bobbi Brown shimmer bricks? I can't say as I don't own the Bobbi Brown one, but I haven't got a bad word to say about this product and think if your on a budget, it seems like a perfect substitute. Although I do think the darker colours from Bobbi Brown look more wearable for the paler skin, but again, this is just my opinion.

Let me know if anyone has tried both and has a preference? :)

Party Season Essentials

January is always a detox and chill out month for me, and this year unfortunately it's also been a poorly month! :(

So while I'm feeling sorry for myself wrapped up indoors, I thought I would reflect on my favourite products that I seemed to use throughout the party season of Christmas and the New Year. 

These are obviously just a few of the items i use for a night out, but I have definitely used these products for most make up looks throughout December and early Jan. 

The first three products are a shower gel, setting spray and a foundation. Before going out on a night out I love to have time to properly get ready, including a relaxing bath or shower. I love using this shower gel from Lush called Snow Fairy. It smells absolutely amazing, and lasts forever!! It just generally puts me in a good mood for the night. 

The Setting spray I use is Mac's Fix Plus. I have to use a setting spray as my make up just seems to shift after a couple of hours partying. I think we've all used hair spray in the past to set our make up, and I did till quite recently as I couldn't find a setting spray that worked for me. Mac's Fix Plus definitely works, and my make up isn't complete without a little spritz! 

Lastly is my Mac Pro Longwear foundation. This is the darkest foundation I own, I have it in the colour NW25, so I tend to use it for nights out when I fake tan. It's quite a full coverage foundation and you only need a tiny bit, in fact I think I've owned this one for nearly a year now and it's just about run out. It gives such an even coverage and leaves the skin glowing. Firm favourite. 

These are definitely two products that I use not just when going out but daily. NARS Laguna bronzer and Urban Decays eyeshadow primer.

I love the Laguna bronzing powder for going out as it has a slight golden shimmer to it, which really does give the prettiest finish. It can be used for either contouring, or adding colour to the cheeks, or just as an all over bronzer. It really is the perfect all rounder! 

I have to use a primer underneath my eyeshadow, if I don't it'll literally crease before I'm even out the door! I used to use one from No.7, which was good, but still gave me a creasing effect towards the end of my night. Since trying this urban decay option, I really can believe all the hype around it, it's amazing. My eyeshadow doesn't crease, smudge, or wear off at all. You can get this in different colours as well which is a nice idea if you want to use it as a base colour. I don't think I'll find a primer as good as this one, well done Urban Decay!

I have been wearing a lot of heavy eye make up over winter for different party looks and outfit matches, so this creamy paint pot from Mac has been perfect for building colour. This is in the colour Constructivist, and is a highly pigmented lovely rich mahogany colour. It dries perfectly, and is easily blendable. It really changes the appearance of some eyeshadow colours when you apply them over the top and gives a lovely finish. 

I absolutely loved this lipstick from Mac over the winter months and kick starting January. It's in the colour Plumful from Mac's Lustre range. Its such a pretty rose plum colour, and actually appears darker on the lips than shown in the swatch above. It gives a lovely sheen and lasts ages. I know some people shy away from the darker colours, and I must admit, I used to as well, but this colour is so wearable, and goes with anything. 

A proper night outs make up look for me, isn't complete without some false lashes. I tend to always stick to the Eylure 101's as I find them the most natural on my eye. They just give a bit of bulk and a little definition to the lashes. I apply these with Duo eyelash glue which you can buy from Mac, as they don't budge with this glue and last all night. Eylure lashes are really durable and I normally end up getting a few uses out of one pair. 

In December I picked up Clinique's Bottom Lash Mascara. I have quite a lot of bottom lashes and they can look quite clumpy when using a normal sized mascara wand on them. This mascara is absolutely amazing, I love it. It doesn't smudge or clump, and makes your bottom lashes look completely lengthened and separated. This is a product that I think every girl should own, I use it every day!

So there were just a few of my party season favourite products to use. With Christmas and New Year over now, we'll all be keeping our eyes open for the spring launches which have already started appearing. What did you all enjoy wearing over the festive period? 

November Favourites

So I'm a bit late of the mark for this post but once again, time has just flown by this month!

So here are the products that I really enjoyed using throughout the month of November.

 It was difficult this month to condense the number down to a few faves as there were so many I enjoyed using this month. November sees the beginning of the 'party season' which normally means lots of outings and different make up looks.

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

I used to be quite loyal to my foundation, using Mac's Pro Longwear as a staple part of my daily make up. But in the last couple of months I have enjoyed trying new foundations, and seeing what works best for me. When I heard about Maybelline's new Fit Me range, including a gel foundation, I had to try it. At £7.99, it's an absolute bargain and has several colours so you get the perfect match for your skin tone. I got mine in number 210 which is Sandy Beige. It wears really well and last all day. 

Bobbi Brown's Creamy Corrector

I've wanted this corrector for such a long time, so I bought it in duty free when I went on holiday recently. I absolutely love this product. It absolutely does what it says on the tin, covering all blue tones from under the eye and leaves that area looking so fresh and bright. I use this along with the Bobbi Brown concealer, and the two together are an unbeatable combination.

Benefit They're Real Mascara

I'd heard a lot about this mascara so when I found it on offer on Look Fantastic's website for £13.60, I snapped it up! I have not stopped using this mascara since. It's amazing! It really separates the lashes and if you curl them as well, gives amazing length. For a fuller look I still reach for my YSL Shocking mascara, normally when I'm going out. I love this product, it's great and I'll definitely be repurchasing.

Unite 7 Seconds Detangler

This product is literally a hair miracle, I can't live without it. Please Unite, never discontinue it! :) I use this product after washing my hair. It just takes a few sprays on to towel dried damp hair, leave for 7 seconds, and then brush through. My hair gets really tangled, and it used to be a nightmare to brush. This spray makes it so much easier.

Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Body Lotion

I think most of us are depressed when winter sets in and our summer tans are slowly evaporating. It means we have to work so much harder to look bronzed and drag out all our fake tanning products. I love using this moisturiser but I usually just use it in summer to top up my existing tan. This winter I've been using this as a base daily tan and I love it. It gives a subtle glow which can then be built to a deeper intensive tan for a night out.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter

It's no secret that the Revlon lip butters are an absolute fave of mine. My lips get quite dry and I love how moisturising these are! I have them in several colours, but I have been loving wearing their red shade called 'Candy Apple'. It's a lighter red and has a slight gloss to it. It lasts so well on the lips and looks especially great with a tan. I couldn't stop wearing this while I was on holiday.


Top: Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple /  Bottom: Mac Lustreglass in Flusterose


MAC Lustreglass

I’m normally not a big gloss fan, I usually only use a lipstick on my lips. I saw a swatch of this gloss and thought it looked absolutely gorgeous. It is a light pink gloss with glitter and sparkles in it and really does shine on the lips. It isn’t sticky at all which is great as I hate that with lip glosses. I wore this recently over Mac’s Creme Cup lipstick and they looked so pretty together. Definitely a big fan of this gloss.   

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish

This is another purchase I picked up in Duty Free recently. I actually wanted the Dior Amber Diamond highlighter, but it was out of stock so I picked this up instead. I am SO glad I did, I love it. I use the shade Soft and Gentle which is perfect with just the right amount of shimmer. I use this as a cheek highlight and it gives the makeup look a gorgeous finish. I can’t stop using this, it’s great.

Essie Nail Varnish

I am loving this colour by Essie at the moment, it’s quite an opaque grey colour, and only needs one coat to look great. It’s in the colour Miss Fancy Pants and even though Essie can be a little more expensive that other varnishes they are so worth it. I find these nail colours really last on my nails and rarely chip. I’ve been wearing this colour so much recently as it’s so wintry and goes with anything.  

So there are my November favourites. Sorry they’re so late, it won’t be long till we’re discussing Decembers, and I have so many already! J Have you tried any of these products? What are your current beauty faves?