As we leave Summer behind and move to Autumn, I always look forward to dusting off my Berry Lips, darker neutral shadows - think dark browns as opposed to beige and light brown, burgundy nails and of course everything black when it comes to clothing. Fragrances become much deeper and less fresh and floral as blankets and candles become an everyday essential must-have item.
Topshop Beauty has just launched at Very.co.uk so there is now a portfolio of more than 500 fashion brands, along with Topshop Beauty range, the business will also become the first UK retailer outside of the Arcadia Group to stock Topshop Beauty. I literally had no idea the entire Topshop Beauty range had changed and expanded as much as it has, not only do they now boast they are cruelty-free and have that all-important Leaping Bunny logo, the new look packaging is incredibly swish and right now it is also currently on offer at a 3 for 2, so well worth having a look.
I was kindly sent a whole host of products to play with and share on my blog and it is quite the change to the Dalmation spotted products I used to purchase from the Oxford Street store, it has been quite the makeover. I love the sleek black and almost grey metallic packaging, I definitely wouldn't have known it was Topshop Beauty from a first glance. Included within my package I have a really incredible selection of products which includes some amazing products.
I was kindly sent a whole host of products to play with and share on my blog and it is quite the change to the Dalmation spotted products I used to purchase from the Oxford Street store, it has been quite the makeover. I love the sleek black and almost grey metallic packaging, I definitely wouldn't have known it was Topshop Beauty from a first glance. Included within my package I have a really incredible selection of products which includes some amazing products.
The Illuminating Primer (£14) - I love a good primer and from Topshop, we have a primer that has a really lovely pearl shimmer, without leaving you shiny.
Quite thick in texture, you only need a small amount to be buffed on to the skin, or as I do, mix it in with my moisturising cream on no makeup days or in with my foundation if that is the order of the day too. It leaves the skin with a really lovely finish and I have found myself reaching for it daily since it arrived.Make-Up Fixing Spray (£12) - Called 'Fresh As' which comes packaged inside the sleekest of black bottles and again, the makeover of the product is rather lovely.
If you're searching for a fine spritzing mist that prevents makeup from fading or settling into pores this one does quite a good job at doing just that. It has no fragrance to it, not even anything chemical, which for some will be a huge box tick and when you do spritz it, the lightweight list is light enough that you don't feel it on the skin. I also found it quite refreshing too!
You never can have too many highlighters in my opinion and the Of Mother Pearl is a Chameleon Highlighter (£15) and it is just beautiful. Infact it was my favourite Topshop Highlighter before the relaunch, so standards had been set for it to be just as good, if not better!
I was not at all disappointed in this highlighter. It is just stunning and depending on whether you like a lot of highlight, just a little bit or somewhere in the middle, this is one to tick all of those boxes. Described as being a pearly prism powder, in the light, this highlighter shimmers and sparkles, almost changing colour to a light gold and is perfect for applying with a brush or even your fingers.
I openly admit that eyeliner is not something I ever rush out to purchase because it is something I rarely use, it tends to be special occasions only rather than an everyday must have item. From Topshop, we have two different eyeliners - a Kajal crayon and a liquid matte liner.
I am an absolute mascara fiend and I love discovering new products. Keyboard (£12) from Topshop Beauty is described as being an Intense Mascara and is packaged inside a chunky black matte tube.
Said to be a lengthening, curling and volumising mascara what I like is that it has a buildable formula, meaning you can add 2-3 coats without getting the dreaded spider leg clumpy looking lashes, but again this will depend on how you apply the mascara. I applied this mascara allowing each coating to slightly dry before adding the next, I am lucky that I have fairly long lashes, so I don't need to add too much product. Formula wise this one isn't overly wet, it doesn't smudge easily and nor does it flake when applied. The brush for me does hold a little too much formula, so I do have to wipe the brush before applying, but other than that, this is a pretty good product.
Soot is described as being a long-wear matte eyeliner (£10) and for those who prefer the liquid eyeliner than this is one that even I have found easy to work with.
It comes with the really delicate and it gives you the freedom to create intricate and precise strokes for that cat-like flick or if you want something a little bolder, it also works for that too.
If the more traditional and sturdy eyeliner is for you then Lucky, the Kajal Eyeliner (£10) and again as someone who isn't the biggest eyeliner fan, I absolutely love using this.
It is big, it is bold and easy to grip onto, this Kajal can be used to create that flick, line your lashes or even use to create that smokey eye. It glides onto the waterline without dragging or pulling and you can choose to smudge it or leave it as is.
If the more traditional and sturdy eyeliner is for you then Lucky, the Kajal Eyeliner (£10) and again as someone who isn't the biggest eyeliner fan, I absolutely love using this.
It is big, it is bold and easy to grip onto, this Kajal can be used to create that flick, line your lashes or even use to create that smokey eye. It glides onto the waterline without dragging or pulling and you can choose to smudge it or leave it as is.
When it comes to lip products I either opt for a berry shade or a mauve nude, those are my comfort zones and it is rare I ever move away from it be it a crayon, lipstick or even a gloss. Within the Topshop Beauty range, there is a whole host of lip crayons in eight amazing shades and I have two of them - Feather and Impressive.
The Ultra Matte Lip Crayons (£10) are described as being a creamy all-in-one formula which creates an intense lip colour. Feather is a really lovely pinky nude shade and Impressive is the cool toned Berry shade which will get me through the Autumn months.
What I like about the formula, as well as being creamy, is that it glides onto the lips and doesn't feather. I always prime my lips before applying anything because I hate that look of lip colour clinging to the tiniest bit of dead skin and amplifying it to a point where it looks horrid.
What I like about the formula, as well as being creamy, is that it glides onto the lips and doesn't feather. I always prime my lips before applying anything because I hate that look of lip colour clinging to the tiniest bit of dead skin and amplifying it to a point where it looks horrid.
The swatches above, which are totally unedited, show Lucky the Kajal Eyeliner Crayon and then both of the lip crayons.
Staying with lips for the next product because I have two of the Chameleon Lip Glosses (£12) in shades Epaulette and Charm School. I always have two requests when it comes to using a lip gloss and that is for them not to be sticky or tacky on the lips, nothing too over the top, but there is nothing worse than having a lip full of your hair.
These glosses are described as being high shine lip glosses which glide on effortlessly and create an irresistible iridescent effect with crystals and light-reflective pigments. They thankfully are non-tacky when applied and what I love is that they have duo-chrome light reflective pigments which almost change the colour of the gloss in the light. Charm School is shown in the top unedited swatch, it is almost a clear gloss with a few light reflective pigments running through it, I like to wear this over a nude lip because it really shows. Epaulette is a bronze almost gold looking gloss but when it catches the light it has flecks of purple and pink pigments which again change its colour and for me, this is one I also like to wear over a nude lip or on its own because it does have a pretty good colour pay off for a gloss. Neither product is drying on the lips and again, they don't dry and feel tight either.
The final item in this amazing bundle is eyeshadow and it is well known that I adore my nude and neutral shades and every now and again I get a little bit daring and add a bit of colour... well show me some glitter and I want to use it from. From Topshop Beauty I have three of the nine Glitter Shadows (£10)
I have shade Bandstand which is a beautiful bronzed glitter shade, Trip which is a black glitter and if ever there was a perfect name for eyeshadow, I have Beauty Queen which is a light pink glitter. Each one of these eye shadows is described as giving a sequin finish and they have a light reflective formula which intensifies that shimmer. On the eye, these shadows are not itchy or scratchy, they apply like a dream and don't feel as though they have 'bits in' like some glitter shadows. They don't dry onto the lid making them comfortable to wear, they are long-lasting and from the swatches above, again unedited, that was the result of one finger swipe on the pan them onto my wrist. Bandstand and Trip are a real stand out shades whereas Beauty Queen is a little bit like me - shy and reserved. For me, Beauty Queen works best as an eyeshadow topper to really bring out the sparkle or you can also use it in the inner corner of each eye as well.
This has been an amazing re-introduction to Topshop Beauty after its makeover and recent launch onto the Very.co.uk network. Alongside the products, I have featured within this review is a whole lot more to be discovered including Lip Balms, Metallic Eyeshadow, Brow Pencils, Blushers, Nail Polish, Makeup Brushes, Liquid Lipsticks and Liquid Foundations to name just a few of those products. Prices for the Topshop Beauty range start from £8 and rise up to £16 with the option of buying products in a set for a little more. What I am impressed with is how the makeover of the brand has changed the look entirely, I think it looks much more high end than it is but I am equally impressed that the prices have not been increased, meaning they are still affordable and as mentioned, currently are on a 3 for 2 option!
What do you think to the new look Topshop Beauty range?
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