Maximalist Mermaid- Anam Cosmetics and Half Magic Beauty

This post contains affiliate links, if you buy something based on my recommendation using the links below, I will receive a small commission but it won't cost you anything extra.

*PR Samples

If you regularly see my content, you'll know I'm a huge fan of the brand Half Magic. I wrote a review of the products I bought from the brand when it first launched two years ago which you can read here. A few months ago they launched their Sparkle 911 Collection which included new shades of their Glitterpill Eye Paint + Liner, Magic Drip Glitter Lip Gloss and Sculptitude 2-in-1 Lip Liner. I always love seeing the campaign images for their collections and as soon as I saw the image below, I saved it so I could recreate it. I'm not able to buy any new releases at the moment as I'm not working (I'm currently a stay at home parent), so I used the products I already had to recreate this look instead of buying the products that were used. 

At the end of last year I was sent some products from a new Irish beauty brand called Anam Cosmetics. At the moment they have one product, their Biodegradable Glitter Eyeshadow which is available in three shades, Gold, Taupe and Teal. I filmed a video for Instagram swatching the shades which you can see here.  Their brand slogan is "áilleacht le hanam" which means "Beauty with Soul" in Gaeilge (the Irish language). "Anam" is the Irish word for soul (it's pronounced like the name Anna with an M at the end). Sustainability is at the heart of the brand. The packaging is fully recyclable and the glitter is biodegradable and made from plant-derived, renewable materials, completely plastic-free and vegan.  They are also cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny approved. On their website they have a Sustainability section with a breakdown of each ingredient and its purpose. I love seeing this from brands as I'm very interested in the ingredients that are used in cosmetics and skincare. When I'm writing a review I like to research the ingredients to see if the claims a brand makes about a product are legitimate. In the past few years there's been a surge in brands using greenwashing terms when marketing products. There's a balance between explaining why and how you are choosing to try to do things that make a difference to the environment and brands that scare monger and allude to other brands as being harmful. I appreciate that Anam has chosen to explain everything on their website and the brand has been founded on these principles rather than using them as a marketing ploy. I love seeing an Irish brand doing something different from all of the other Irish beauty brands, it's so refreshing. I've been loving using these eyeshadows. I included the application video of this look below so you can see me using the Teal shade. 

Anam Cosmetics Biodegradable Glitter Eyeshadow- Gold, Taupe and Teal

I had the Half Magic Face Gems that were used in the look and different shades of the Sculptitude Lip Liner and Magic Drip Lip Gloss, so I used those instead. I wanted an ethereal glow on my cheeks so I used the new Lancôme Idôle Tint in the shade 07 Earth Red mixed with Auric Glow Lust in Morganite and then added some extra glow using the KJH.Brand Hyper Shine High Lite in the shade Lite Pink. I knew I wanted glitter and glow on my eyes, lips and cheeks so I kept my base a soft matte using the Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation which is one of my favourite foundations. I intensified the freckles across my nose and cheeks using the NYX Micro Brow Pencil to give my skin more of a fresh appearance as the foundation has a bit more coverage. I loved how this look turned out and I think the Teal eyeshadow is perfect. This would be ideal festival/ gig makeup or even just for a night out (or to wear to do your grocery shopping if you're me!) You could use any shade on the eyes and change the gem placement depending on your eye shape. I'd love to know what you think!

*Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation (Porcelain 140)

Smashbox Under Eye Brightening Corrector (Light/Medium)

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer (Crème)

Fenty Beauty Match Stix (Amber)

Makeup By Mario Softsculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer (Light)

NYX Professional Makeup Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen (Ash Brown)

West Barn Co. Soap Brows Extra Strong Hold

*Anam Cosmetics Biodegradable Glitter Eyeshadow (Teal) 

*Sweed Cloud Mascara

*Sweed Satin Kohl Eyeliner (Bright) 

Half Magic Beauty Face Gems (Iridescent Sparkle)

Half Magic Beauty Face Pearls (Bold Metallic)

Half Magic Beauty Sculptitude 2-in-1 Lip Liner (I’ll Pray For You)

Half Magic Beauty Magic Drip Glitter Lip Gloss (Frosty B*tch) 

Kosas Revealer Concealer (01N)

Kosas Cloud Set Powder (Airy) 

*Lancôme Idôle Tint Liquid Eye-Blusher (07 Earth Red) 

Auric Cosmetics Glow Lust Radiant Luminizer (Morganite) 

KJH.Brand Hyper Shine High Lite Kit (Lite Pink)

NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil (Ash Brown)

MAC Fix + Stay Over

*IT Cosmetics CC+ Skin-Perfecting Brush (discontinued, similar here)

Spectrum Collections X KJH 05 (blush), 21 (lips)

Rebeluna R14 Mini Domed Kabuki Brush (sculpting)

*bareMinerals Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush 

KJH.Brand No. 1 Brush 

Real Techniques Setting Brush 

MYKITCO Pro 1.11 My Tiny Liner 

*Lancôme X Louvre (limited edition, similar here)

West Barn Co. The Brow Brush 

Half Magic Beauty Adornment Tweezers 

Surratt Relevée Eyelash Curler

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I'd love to know what you think of this look, would you wear it or are there any elements of it you'd wear? If there are any specific product reviews you would like to see from me please let me know. If you'd like to support my work as a Content Creator, you can do so through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Emma x

Strawberry Letter 23- Moondust Eyes and Prada Lips

This post contains affiliate links, if you buy something based on my recommendation using the links below, I will receive a small commission but it won't cost you anything extra.

*PR Samples

This look is from February as I'm a bit behind with my blog posts. I've been trying to write a corresponding post for every makeup application video I film. I wanted to take close-up photos of the makeup so that you can see the end result as well as the application. I had just received this palette and lipstick in press drops and I was so excited to try both. 

I was taken with this lipstick as soon as I saw it at the Prada Beauty counter. It’s such a happy, strawberry, summer red. I wanted to base the whole look around the lipstick but I also wanted to try out the Moondust Eyeshadow Palette so I just decided to go for it. I loved how this look turned out, three of my favourite things combined, wet look eyeshadow, a little cat eye and red lips. 

The Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows have been around for years but in the past year or two, they have had a resurgence mainly due to the virality of the shade Space Cowboy. I don't own that particular shade but a couple of years ago when they were repackaged I was sent the shade Lithium which is a beautiful cool brown. It's not as versatile as Space Cowboy but it's a great one and done wet-look eyeshadow. I was never tempted by Space Cowboy mainly because I have my collection of Bodyography Glitter Pigments which I love and they have always scratched my wet-look eyeshadow itch. Coincidentally, a couple of weeks before I received the Moondust Palette, I bought my second Moondust single eyeshadow in the shade Solstice (which you can see here). Last Year Urban Decay released two Limited Edition Moondust Quads, Space Rider and Galactic Cowgirl. I was sent the latter and even though Space Cowboy is in the Space Rider palette, I prefer the shades in the one I was sent. For some reason these palettes are Limited Edition and I can only find Space Rider on Millies and Galactic Cowgirl on Boots. I think they should be permanent considering the popularity of the Moondust formula. It seems like a mistake for Urban Decay to not make them a part of the permanent collection. All that to say, if they interest you and you can find them somewhere that ships to you, be aware that they are limited edition and may be gone soon. Although there are similar shades to most of the ones in the palettes in the single Moondust range. 

I did a wash of the Moondust shade Cosmic Cowgirl and then a thin winged liner just on the outer corner. Even though I was pairing glitter eyeshadow, liner and red lipstick, I wanted it to not be too much. I hope you like the look! 

*Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Primer

*Prada Beauty Reveal Skin Foundation (LC5)

Smashbox Under Eye Brightening Corrector (Light/Medium)

Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber)

Makeup By Mario Softsculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer (Light)

NYX Professional Makeup Lift & Snatch! Brow Tint Pen (Ash Brown)

West Barn Co. Prep Mist

West Barn Co. Soap Brows Extra Strong Hold 

*Urban Decay Naked X Robin Eisenberg Palette (Moonsand, Solar Storm) 

*Urban Decay Moondust Palette (Cosmic Cowgirl) 

*Surratt Auto-Graphique Liner (Chat Noir) 

*Sweed Cloud Mascara 

Victoria Beckham Beauty Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil 

*Unleashia Glitterpedia Eye Palette (04 All of Lavender Fog) via Stylevana

Givenchy Beauty Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Concealer (N95) 

Finding Ferdinand X Kackie Reviews Beauty Summer Abroad Cream Blush (Latte, Au Lait)

NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil (Ash Brown) 

*Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder 

*Prada Beauty Monochrome Hyper Matte Lipstick (R26 Lava) 

*IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe #7 Brush 

MYKITCO 0.6 My Flawless Contour (blush)

MYKITCO 1.29 My Sheer Blender

Rebeluna R24 Small Pencil Brush (lower lash line)

Rebeluna R08 Domed Concealer Buffer Brush (concealer) 

Spectrum Collections X KJH 08 (powder) 

West Barn Co. The Brow Brush

Surratt Relevée Eyelash Curler 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I'd love to know what you think of this look, would you wear it or are there any elements of it you'd wear? If there are any specific product reviews you would like to see from me please let me know. If you'd like to support my work as a Content Creator, you can do so through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Emma x

Blushing Lizard

This post contains affiliate links, if you buy something based on my recommendation using the links below, I will receive a small commission but it won't cost you anything extra.

*PR Samples

I have been wanting to try the Half Magic Beauty single eyeshadow, ‘Blushing Lizard’ since it was released last year but it was almost always out of stock on Beauty Bay. I finally managed to nab it when it came back in stock in January (it’s since gone out of stock again but is available on the Half Magic website). I actually bought the Urban Decay Moondust in the shade Solstice too as I was curious about how they compared. I filmed a Reel for Instagram comparing both which you can see here and I've included some comparison photos below too. Blushins Lizard is described as a “mauve taupe with blue reflects”. When worn alone it’s quite sheer which makes it an excellent topper as it transforms any shade you choose to wear beneath it. I wore this exact look a couple of times before I filmed it I had a couple of people comment on the eyeshadow when I was out and about, so I thought it would be a good one to film since it was an IRL hit. It’s such an easy but impactful look and I kept the rest of the colour makeup in the same colour family so that it was more cohesive. 

I’ve been wearing the Fenty Beauty Fu$$y gloss quite a bit recently as it’s one of my favourites (and a repurchase, you can see some blog posts of me wearing it here) and I hadn’t worn it in a while. I thought it was the perfect shade to go with this look and I even did the recent ‘double gloss’ trend I saw from Fenty and I love how it looks, as long as the glosses aren’t too thick it looks great! 

Solstice, Blushing Lizard

*Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer

*Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation (2)

Fenty Beauty Match Stix (Amber)

Makeup By Mario Softsculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer (Light)

NYX Professional Makeup Lift & Snatch! Brow Tint Pen (Ash Brown)

West Barn Co. Prep Mist

West Barn Co. Soap Brows Extra Strong Hold 

Half Magic Beauty Chromaddiction Mattes (Wild Caught)

Half Magic Beauty Single Eyeshadow (Blushing Lizard)

Half Magic Beauty Light Trap Duochrome Glow Powder (Enter the Glow) 

*Urban Decay Naked X Robin Eisenberg (Moonsand) 

*Sweed Cloud Mascara

Kosas Revealer Concealer (01N) 

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Blush (Encourage) 

Auric Cosmetics Glow Lust Radiant Luminizer (Morganite) 

Victoria Beckham Beauty Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil 

NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil (Ash Brown) 

*Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder 

*YSL Beauty Nu Dewy Mist 

NYX Professional Makeup Suede Matte Lip Liner (Lavender & Lace) 

Dior Beauty Lip Glow Oil (000 Universal Clear) 

Fenty Beauty Glossbomb Universal Lip Luminizer (Fu$$y) 

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush 

MYKITCO 0.6 My Flawless Contour 

MYKITCO 1.29 My Sheer Blender

Half Magic Beauty Pyramid Eyeshadow Brush 

Rebeluna R08 Domed Concealer Buffer Brush 

Rebeluna R22 Flat Shader/Packer Brush 

Spectrum Collections X KJH 08 

West Barn Co. The Brow Brush 

Surratt Relevée Eyelash Curler

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I'd love to know what you think of this look, would you wear it or are there any elements of it you'd wear? If there are any specific product reviews you would like to see from me please let me know. If you'd like to support my work as a Content Creator, you can do so through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Emma x

Florasis Nomadic Glam Collection

This post contains affiliate links, if you buy something based on my recommendation using the links below, I will receive a small commission but it won't cost you anything extra.

*PR Samples

In January, Florasis released their new collection Nomadic Glam. It consists of six products, the Into the Wild Palette ($55 USD), the Blooming Rouge Ultra Smooth Satin Liquid Lipstick ($30 USD), the Peony Dream Cream Blush ($30 USD), the Flawless Jade Breathable Pressed Powder ($46 USD), the Flawless Jade Breathable Longwear Cushion Foundation ($46 USD) and the Yurong Airbrushed Tinted Pressed Powder ($52 USD). 

I was sent three of the products to test out and I've been using them over the past month. I thought I would write a review and share some photos of me wearing the products so that anyone interested in the collection can see them in action. As far as I know, this collection is Limited Edition but because the products are so unique and beautiful I wanted to showcase them here on my blog. I have a video swatching the collection on Instagram and I included my application video at the end of this post. 

As with all Florasis products, the packaging of this collection is beautifully unique. It's quite a lightweight plastic but the detail of the etched artificial leather is something I haven't seen before and it makes the packaging something special. The knot on the packaging is inspired by the Mongolian Ulzii knot which symbolises knowledge, wealth, happiness and good karma. The collection itself is inspired by the emerald Steppes, grasslands and rolling hills of Eastern Mongolia which is reflected in the campaign imagery. I'm going to be honest and say I do not know enough about the Steppes and the Mongolian Nomads to go into detail here, I know it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and I've seen there are documentaries about it. I plan on doing more research because I shamefully don't know much about it and I'd like to inform and educate myself. That being said I'm unsure as to the use of this culture as inspiration for a makeup collection from a Chinese brand. I'm going to be basing this review on face value as I'm not informed enough to say whether it is anything other than appreciation. 

The palette is absolutely beautiful, I've never seen such beautiful embossing except for on other Florasis products. There are four mattes, two shimmers and one glitter. I’ve tried the palette in lots of different ways already and I've found it versatile and easy to use. It’s quite a neutral palette of earthy tones. The dark turquoise glitter shade Midnight Waters is probably the least easy to wear in terms of texture and colour, so I wanted to create a look using that and the two shimmer shades. The mattes are beautiful, they have that formula that isn’t too pigmented but instead builds slowly and blends smoothly and effortlessly. If you struggle with blending matte eyeshadows, which I do sometimes, I highly recommend the Florasis ones as they’re very beginner friendly. 

The shimmers are beautiful too, they can be applied more sheer or built up using fingers or a damp brush. The same can be said for the glitter shade, although I did find this shade more difficult to build up. It has a deep grey base pigment and can be worn alone but I applied it over a medium brown base to give it some more warmth to tie it in with the gold shade. There is some fallout because the texture is quite chunky but again, if you apply it with your fingers or a damp brush the fallout will be minimised and you'll get the most payoff. You can do a lot with this palette as you can achieve a very minimal matte look or amp up the glamour and go all out glitter. This palette would make a beautiful gift for anyone who likes neutral eye makeup but likes a bit of sparkle too. I'm excited to continue to use it. 

The Peony Dream Cream Blush is described as "a rich reddish brown that transforms into a naturally sun-kissed flush on contact." I would describe it as a ruddy coral with gold micro shimmer. The shimmer looks more apparent in the pan than it does on the skin as you can see from the close-up photos below. On my skin, it leans warmer but it's a versatile blush shade and I can imagine it working on many skin tones as it can be built up quite easily. If you have a similar skin tone to me, I recommend applying it with a light hand as the pigment is quite rich. Despite the name, it has a powder finish but it isn't chalky or patchy, it blends seamlessly on the skin. 

The formula contains moisturising ingredients and a hydrophobic coating technology that locks in moisture while repelling water so it is sweatproof and waterproof. I didn't know what to expect with this product as I had never tried a Florasis blush before and I gravitate toward cream and liquid formulas. However it's one of the most elegant powder blush formulas I have tried. If I was to compare it to any other brand I would say it's similar to the NARS formula although I haven't tried that in years. If you're a powder blush fan or someone who finds blush doesn't last on their skin, I would definitely recommend checking this one out. I think it will be a great option for the warmer months. 

The final product is the Blooming Rouge Ultra Smooth Satin Liquid Lipstick. The shade is described as being "inspired by the naturally rich hues of sunsets and warm milk tea." I love this shade description, I would call it a muted brown-red which is much less poetic. It's almost like a more saturated version of the blush but because of the creamy formula, it can be worn in a sheer way by patting it on or built up for more opacity. It has a creamy mousse-like, silicone texture that dries down to a satin finish. If you've tried the Romand Blur Fudge Tint, it's like a satin version of that formula. It contains moisturising ingredients including calendula, so it feels comfortable to wear all day. It also has no discernable scent which I know will be good news for a lot of people as it can be difficult to find a fragrance-free lip product. I love this shade so much more than I expected to as it’s so easy and comfortable to wear. I wore it today with minimal makeup and I actually patted some of it on my cheeks as I was trying to get ready quickly. 

*Vieve Skin Nova Instant Radiance Primer 

*Prada Beauty Reveal Skin Foundation (LC5) 

Smashbox Under Eye Brightening Corrector (Light/Medium) 

Fenty Beauty Match Stix (Amber) 

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer (Butta Biscuit) 

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer (Crème) 

Hindash Cosmetics Color Fluid (Carve) 

*Florasis Into the Wild Palette (06 Midnight Waters, 03 Glittering Sunrise, 05 Golden Dewdrop)

*Florasis Peony Dream Cream Blush (13 Morning Rays)

*Florasis Blooming Rouge Ultra Smooth Satin Liquid Lipstick (Sacred Warmth) 

*Clarins Fix’ Make-Up

Hildun Beauty Silk to Set Kajal Liner (Chocolate) 

*Clio Kill Lash Mascara via Stylevana 

Givenchy Beauty Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Concealer (N95) 

*Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder 

Nabla Skin Glazing Powder (Ozone) 

NYX Professional Makeup Lip Pencil (Nude Truffle) 

*YSL Beauty Nu Dewy Mist 

*IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7 

Spectrum Collections X KJH 05 

Spectrum Collections X KJH 08

Spectrum Collections X KJH 15

MYKITCO 0.6 My Flawless Contour

MYKITCO 1.29 My Sheer Blender

MYKITCO 1.15 Pro My Blending Shadow  

MYKITCO 1.24 Pro My Mini Smudge 

Rebeluna R08 Domed Concealer Buffer Brush 

Rebeluna R23 Small Tapered Blender Brush 

Rebeluna R28 Flat Shader/Blender Brush 

Zoeva 230 Luxe Pencil (now named the Detail Smoky Blender) 

West Barn Co. The Brow Brush 

Surratt Relevée Eyelash Curler

I don't see many people I follow on social media talking about Florasis and even though I've been following them for a while now I am relatively new to the products myself. They sent me some of their bestselling products last year and I've been testing them out and so far I've been very impressed. I was worried that this brand was all style, no substance but I'm happy to say that the quality of the products is as equal to the packaging as possible. 

I'd love to know what you think of this look and if you'd wear it yourself. Have you tried Florasis or is it a brand that's on your radar? 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I hope you found it to be informative. If there are any specific product reviews you would like to see from me please let me know. If you'd like to support my work as a Content Creator, you can do so through Buy Me A Coffee. 

Emma x