Review: Nars Mekong Single Eyeshadow

I brought this last weekend whilst browsing through a department store. I hadn't planned on purchasing it but had heard so many rave reviews and I don't own any Nars eyeshadows, so it was a spontaneous buy. The colour is a very deep, dark chocolate brown with micro-fine gold shimmers.. I've been wearing this eyeshadow everyday since I brought it and absolutely LOVE it! I would happily just have this single brown shadow in my collection if I had to choose from the ones that I already own!

PROS

• The pigmentation and the quality of the shadow is phenomenal - you only need to dip (ever so slightly) your brush into the pan and already you have enough to apply on your lid/outer corner. I dip the brush in a few times after blending to intensify the colour, as initially, I don't want to apply too much. The colour lasts all day on my lids (I do use UDPP as a base too) and even throughout the evening.
• Blend-ability is superb! I blend the shadow with my MAC 217 brush and the pigmentation doesn't fade away. It's amazing how such a tiny amount of this shadow can actually go a long way. I don't find that I have to blend for a long time to get the effect that I want so it helps save on time when I'm rushing in the morning =)
• The pan contains 2.2g of product and I paid £16.50. In comparison, MAC eyeshadows have 1.5g of product and costs £11.50. I find that with some MAC eyeshadows e.g. Mulch and Embark, I have to heavy-handedly dip my brushes into the pan repeatedly to build up the colour on my lids. However with the Nars Mekong, I do not need to do that....if I were to then there would be absolutely TOO much on my lids! So, the Nars Mekong is absolutely worth every penny as I don't use much and it still looks new in the pan after a week! I do love 90% of my MAC e/s but to reflect on the Nars Mekong, I do not see myself finishing the pan in less than a year and a half with everyday use. Bargain for my buck!
• Like most powder products from Nars, the eyeshadow comes with a mirror, which is very convenient for on the go. Obviously, the mirror is smaller than the ones found in the blusher pans but I like the fact that there is a 'spare' mirror at hand just in case I forget my regular compact mirror.
• I haven't used the eyeshadow wet yet but I'm extremely intrigued to see how the shadow would be used as a liner. I do not see how the shadow would fail as a liner considering the quality that I have mentioned =)

CON

• The only flaw that I can give about this product is the packaging like most Nars products. The 'rubbery' finish of the case does make the packaging look dirty/messy, even after the first use. However, the packaging of all the Nars products that I own doesn't make me sway away from purchasing more from the brand, as the quality of the products themselves makes me overlook the messy packaging results that lay after. After all, don't we look for the quality in a product as a major purchasing factor? Besides from the messiness, I still think that the Nars Mekong looks sleek in design.

The eyeshadow combinations that I have used so far with my Nars Mekong are:

NEUTRAL EYES
Urban Decay - Virgin, Naked and Buck (from their Naked Palatte)
MAC - Brule, Sable, Patina, Soft Brown, Wedge and Vanila. Painterly paintpot.
Revlon - Nude Slip

xoxo

What Nars eyeshadows do you own? What did you think of them?

Mac Peacocky Spring 2011 Collection

Last week, I popped by my regular MAC counter in anticipation of the releases from their latest collection. I already knew that I wanted to purchase a few of their Kissable Lipcolours after seeing swatches from Temptalia's website. I ended up buying four - Love Peck, Woo Me, Enchantee and So Vain. At first, I wasn't too sure on their Mega Metal eyeshadows that were also released in the collection, as I have so many eyeshadows already. However in the end, I purchased one - Prance.

It's been over a week since trying out my new purchases and to be honest, I'm not completely sold on them. They're not bad but they're also not my go to products either. The hype and love for them has quickly died out.
The one eyeshadow that I purchased, well, although it looks lovely in the pan and when I first apply it in the morning, it tends to lose its' appeal after a few hours. Let me elaborate...the eyeshadow just looked TOO metallic on the lid - yes duh, I know after all it is called a Mega Metal eyeshadow, but it reminds me of....a space man, foil and the 1980s rolled up into one (hahahahaha stupid description I know). But seriously, I do not mind shimmer on my lids but this time, it was too shimmery and not great for daytime wear. Maybe I should have brought another colour instead - however, I'll just wear this shadow in the evenings...

On the other hand, the Kissable Lipcolours are much better. Although, I did expect a tad more in quality. The lipcolours are opaque enough to cover 85% of my highly rosey pigmented lips but after a couple of hours, my lips tend to look dry. I hate that! I apply a lip conditioner/balm throughout the day and prior to applying the lipcolour but if I reapply throughout the day, then the effect doesn't look as initially great. I don't regret purchasing them but most probably wouldn't RE-purchase them either. I'm thinking to try out the Chanel version. What do you think?

Overall, I like the Kissable Lipcolours but they're not my go to lip products and the eyeshadows, I don't think they're a must-have.

xoxo

p.s. What did you buy and think of the collection?

Haul: Lipsy, Primark, Topshop, Dune

I haven't been clothes shopping in a very long time...usually I just buy one piece here and there, every 2-3 weeks. But to specifically go on a mission to buy multiple items of clothing in one week alone, then no I haven't been in months! I think I've been more addicted to makeup shopping instead =S, which I can say is very frequent...

Recently, I've been watching and reading a couple of videos and blogs on recent clothing hauls. That prompted me! One YouTube video that I watched was by a girl called Sara (SWalkerMakeup - I love her videos and she has such a sweet personality :)) and she showed a beautiful soft camel, chiffon shirt that she brought from Lipsy. I just had to have it!! Cue.....

Lipsy Button Front Laced Shirt, £38

I love it! I'm usually a UK size 8 but I brought a size larger as I wanted the shirt to be more loose and 'flowy'. It is sheer and the neck line is low so I will wear a cami underneath, but obviously you don't have to - it's your preference! There are delicate black lace detailings around the neck line at the front and also around the elasticated cuffs - giving it that extra feminine touch. The sleeves are 'puffy' and not fitted so drapes down until it gathers at the wrist. l I think it's all the detailing of the top that makes me love it :)

I would wear mine with black skinny jeans and either cute nude pumps or black biker boots, teamed with a blazer for a daytime look. For the evening, just add some black or patent camel/nude heels!

I couldn't find the shirt on the Lipsy website but I brought mine at a concession in Topshop. I have also seen the shirt at the freestanding Lipsy stores. Both also give 10-20% student discount! Love Love!

Lipsy Embellished Fan Sleeve Top, £38

I also brought another top from Lipsy, which you can find here on the website. This time in a dusty pink colour and in my usual size 8. I think you would have to see the colour in person to know whether it would suit your skintone, but I am naturally lightly tanned (not bronzed) and it suits me well. The top has angel sleeves and again the top flows and drapes down to your waist. It is sheer so I will be wearing a cami underneath this one too. I absolutely love the pearl and silver embellished detailing around the neckline! Love!

I don't usually buy my clothes from Primark but I wanted to see what they had in their collection...and I ended up leaving with quite a few items!

Ok, first of all, I know I'm not a teenager anymore and yes fine, I'm getting...older :'( But I thought this grey cardigan was 'cute'. My BF calls it 'cheesy' (hahaha) but I stand my ground, I like it :) It has multi-coloured pastel hearts all over it and fits around the body well (not too loosely).

I brought it as I thought it would just be a very casual 'studying in the library/popping out to the shop' cardigan. And at £12, I can't really lose...

I also brought a cream long cardigan with sheer flower designs all over it. It has pockets at the bottom and the cardi would be nice for layering and the during the spring time...Another item that I brought was a light pink sweater with faux diamond detailing all over, nice to wear just for uni :)

 I saw this light tan pleated skirt, made from cotton with a zip at the side. I needed some skirts and not just the bodycon ones! Not too sure what I would wear with this yet but I don't mind having it in my wardrobe and it only cost £12!...Can you see a trend here with the nude colour scheme?!

I passed by the accessories section of Primark and 98% of everything cost £1! So I picked up a pack of 3 cute flower hair grips. They're not big enough to hold up my entire head of hair in them but they're do for when I'm at home and want to get my hair out of my face. I also brought a pair of cute flower earrings (bottom right) and two rings - one similar to the Swarowski Chic rings and a plastic pink rose....

I popped into Topshop (where I brought the Lipsy shirt) and wanted to buy a new pair of denim jeans. I like the range that TS offers because they stock 30" leg lengths. I'm 5 ft 2" and always find it difficult to find a decent pair of fitted jeans with the right length - I hate having to wait to alter jeans. I was looking for a pair that was fitted towards the ankle, in a dark indigo colour and found these!...

Topshop 'Leigh'  Super Soft Ankle Grazer in Navy, £36

I brought a size up (Waist 28) rather than my usual W26, as they come up extremely small!!! But I love them all the same! They are extremely soft and don't have any fancy pocket detailing, etc. I wore them today and they're very comfortable :) Love!

Last but not least! I found these babies the other day whilst I was browsing in Dune...

 They were originally £99 but I brought them in the sale for £40!!! I couldn't believe it! They are extremely comfortable peep-toe, platform heels and have a diamond and metal twist detailing at the front. The heels have silver metal details and I love them! I might wear these on Valentine's Day <3

So that's it - a haul of clothing that was long overdue! I really recommend visiting these stores as their new Spring/Summer collections are being released and most of their sale stock has gone, so the stores don't look as messy and they're not too busy during this time of the year :)

Sarah xoxo