Zoeva Rose Golden Brush Set / Review

I am sure you’ve all heard about the oh-so-gorgeous Zoeva Rose Golden Brush Set (here or here) by now. These little gems have taken over the beauty world and Instagram recently and after some serious swooning I took the plunge and placed my order. And I am smitten. All brushes have beautiful quality, perform incredibly well and the stunning design is everything a rose gold lover could ever dream of.

The Zoeva brushes tick all the boxes – they are super soft, easy to control, apply and blend products beautifully, wash well and have an amazing luxury feel to them. They definitely measure up to my MAC bad boys but are basically a fraction of the price. The Rose Golden set comes with eight brushes (five for face & three for eyes) and are made with both natural and synthetic taklon bristles. The brushes are housed in a gorgeous faux leather travel bag, which is such a lovely touch. Here is a quick rundown of all brushes and you might want to keep your wallet at the ready. You know -just in case.

106 / Powder (here)

This brush is designed to make the application of both loose and pressed powder a breeze. However, due to its somewhat longer, too flexible and pointed bristles I don’t find that it actually works as good for all over setting powder application – it just doesn’t seem to be doing much for me. I do love it for dusting bronzer down my neck or with my Guerlain Meteorites though. It disturbs the product evenly and I love how ridiculously soft and gentle it is.

102 / Silk Finish (here)

I never thought I’d find a foundation brush that would bump my beloved Sigma F80 (here) off the top spot but miracles do happen and Silk Finish is the living proof. It is definitely my favorite brush of the bunch and I adore the way it applies and blends my liquid foundation. It offers the quickest and easiest application and the results blow me away every time – even coverage, natural-looking flawless finish that looks as if I’ve spent hours airbrushing my skin of Photoshop. Big thumbs up and it’s not only the softest brush I’ve stumbled upon but I also love that it picks up the perfect amount of product without wasting tons of foundation. Definitely one to check out ladies!

110 / Face Shape (here)

This baby is the mini version of Silk Finish and it could be used for more precise makeup application or for contouring. I mainly use it for the latter and it creates the perfect shadow under my cheekbones, especially used with cream bronzer (Bourjois Bronzing Primer or Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel work a treat). Again, it is uber soft and blends product seamlessly. Love.

127 / Luxe Sheer Cheek (here)

Say hello to the perfect blush brush you’ll ever see in your life! This angled shape godsend brush is made with the softest natural bristles and packs all the right amounts of color. It is practically a dupe for the MAC 168 (here) and it hugs the cheekbones perfectly, making it an ideal companion for the application of your favorite blush, bronzer and highlight. Luxe Sheer Cheek turns my cheekbones from almost non-existent to oh-so-high and modelesque on the spot. The only reason this baby comes second after Silk Finish in my favorites list though is because it tends to shed a bit but apart from that it rocks and I couldn’t recommend it enough.

142 / Concealer Buffer (here)

It’s official - I am never applying concealer with my fingers again! Not after seeing the miracles this brush works! Not only that it is super soft and gentle but it also blends concealer so seamlessly – no lines or strokes! I use the Concealer Buffer to blend the concealer under my eyes, around my nose and on my chin and it is such a dream to use. I am smitten.

227 / Luxe Soft Definer (here)

MAC 217 dupe alert!! If you ever wanted to get your mitts to the much adored MAC 217 brush or you were hoping to find a much softer alternative, you’ve come to the right place and 227 Soft definer is the brush you need in your life. It is easily the best eyeshadow brush I own and it is such a little mulitasker – it is the perfect crease brush and I love how beautifully it packs and blends out color whilst being really gentle. Bye bye harsh lines, hello professional eye makeup application!

231 / Luxe Petite Crease (here)

I am yet to fall head over heels in love with this brush but I can imagine that if you are a serious smokey eye wearer you’ll adore this. Petite Crease is a tiny tapered crease brush and helps you accentuate the socket, create very defined crease and outer V. Since smokey eye and I meet at rare occasions, I tend to use Petite Crease for applying eyeshadow under my lower lash line or placing some in the inner corner of my eye for some brightening effect.

317 / Wing Liner

Out of all brushes in the set, Wing Liner is the brush that gets the least use from me. I was hoping that this lil’ angled brush would be my brows’ new best friend but because of the fact that its bristles are too long and bendy the brush lacks precision and it’s not ideal for brows. However, if you’re a gel eyeliner type a gal (unfortunately I like my liquid liner better) this baby will help you nail the perfect cat eye, creating precise line and beautiful flick. It’s tried and tested.

Have you tried any of the brushes in this set? Which one would you like to try?

Lots of love,

Andrea

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10 Things I’ve Learned in 2014

It’s NYE and tonight we kiss 2014 a big goodbye and dive into 2015. This is equally really exciting and super scary for me. I can’t quite wrap my head around how quickly the time flies to be honest! It feels as if it was yesterday when I sat down and made my 2014 New Year’s Resolutions. This past year has literally slipped through my fingers but what a year has been regardless!  I feel like I’ve grown up, became more independent and a lot more confident at what I do and who am I as a person. I’ve gained a lot and lost a lot. But that’s life I guess. I wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you for the massive support for the past twelve months; you made my year incredible and made me truly happy and motivated to continue doing what I do! I am really looking forward to see what 2015 has in stock for all of us but before that I wanted to share the top 10 things 2014 has taught me. It was definitely the year of life lessons, so let’s reflect and see what I’ve learned…

Fall in love with yourself first.

Let go of the people who bring you down. Life is too short.

It’s okay not to be okay.

But it won’t always be this way. Things will fall back into place sooner then you think.

Embrace change – something wonderful may come out of it.

Be opinioned and always stand up for yourself. People will respect that.

Treat others as you want to be treated.

Always be kind and spread positivity.

Pick your battles wisely. Sometimes it’s just not worth it.

Hard work pays off. Always.

Thank you for joining me for the very last post of 2014 and now go and get yourselves ready for an amazing NYE and may the new year be truly wonderful for all of you!

Happy New Year guys!

Andrea

xx

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Violet It Up With MAC Heroine

If you are a regular reader here on RosyChicc, you would know that when it comes to my lipstick choices I don’t discriminate. No matter how bright and bold a lipstick is I’ll have it and chances are – I will love it too. And the shockingly bold (and equally beautiful) MAC Heroine lipstick is the living proof. Ever since I got if a few weeks back, it’s been twisted up and swiped on too many times to count and even though it gets the occasional judgy looks from my grandma I adore it. I feel like it reflects my personality perfectly and if I were a lipstick I’d definitely be Heroine…

With Heroine, you either love it or hate it and I definitely seem to be in love with it. The super unique bright violet purple shade of Heroine is what leaves me smitten every time I swipe it across my lips. It is bold and daring and definitely has a certain edge to it but at the same time it’s fun and stylish. Heroine is ideal when you want to break from the mainstream nudes and reds and it definitely does something to my confidence. It is the perfect companion for us green-eyed ladies too as it makes the color of the eyes pop beautifully. If you don’t fancy going full-on purple pout then I have good news and you can actually build down the shade to a more sheer violet-y veil of color, which is just as stunning. Love.

Heroine is branded as a matte but I’d say that it has more of a satin finish. It definitely has a slight sheen to it and the creamy consistency is what makes me love it even more. The lippy applies like a dream with no trace of drying or clinging into fine lines. Also, there is no awkward fading or bleeding in different areas, which gets big thumbs up from me! Pigmentation wise, Heroine rocks and you need one swipe to get full-blown and even color. The 3-4 hour longevity of this beauty is great considering how smooth and soft it actually is. So my final verdict? Heroine is a good’un and if you fancy going out of your comfort zone and dipping your toe into the violet / purple lip pool this gem’s a must!

Have you tried Heroine before? How do you like it? Would you sport a shade like this?

Lots of love,

Andrea

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January Beauty Favorites

January might be over but one thing is for sure – I have never been as excited to share my monthly favorites as I am today eep! This past month really did treat me nicely on the beauty front and I have discovered some pretty amazing gems that I cannot rave about enough! My love for lip liners deepened as I managed to get my mitts on MAC Soar, a new lip combo with it has been taking place, purple lips and I are now bffs and I found the way to cheat the system Photoshop-style with one uber luxurious face product. Oh and I have a new addition to my skincare stash, which you *need* in your life pronto! Yep, it’s been a good month, let’s discuss…

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads (here)

January was the month that I finally got introduced to First Aid Beauty as a brand and let me just say - I am smitten. I got this set here and so far I am loving all products but the one that stood out to me the most is definitely this jar of perfection as I like to call it. Ever since I heard Caroline Hirons talk about the Radiance Pads I wanted to try them but I was a bit on the fence about using AHA exfoliants. I am definitely a newbie when it comes to these types of toners but I honestly couldn’t have been more impressed and you can now put me in to the ‘full-time acid exfoliant addict’ list. Basically, the FAB Radiance Pads are pre-soaked in a blend of lactic and glycolic acid and they leave the skin feel extremely soft and smooth. I like to use the pads at night as a toner and pre-moisturizer and I love how toned and radiant my skin looks in the morning. My pores are minimized as well and I love how much smoother my foundation goes on – love. The Facial Radiance Pads are suitable for all skin types and they are really mild and gentle with no stringing involved – perfect for us AHA exfoliants beginners!

Guerlain Meteorites Pearles in 02 Clair (here)

What? A makeup product that airbrushes the skin and it’s virtually like Photoshop for your face? Yes, that’s the best way I could describe the magic that these godsend pearls work and to say that I am in love would be a serious understatement! The Guerlain Meteorites are in their own little category as they are not highlighter, or setting powder as many people seem to think. They fall into the finishing powder category but I have never used anything quite like them. These little balls of loveliness minimize the pores, even out the skin tone beautifully, reduce redness (thanks to the minty pearls in 02 Clair) and above all – make the skin look healthy and add gorgeous inner glow that looks oh-so-natural and stunning. The Meteorites just blur everything and transform the skin from dull to happy in one swirl of the brush. I’ve been using them daily for the past month and they are such a little treat and I just adore how smoother and luminous my skin looks – looooove! P.S Full review coming up soon.

MAC Soar Lip Liner & MAC Brave Lipstick Combo (here / here)

Basically January consisted of me sporting MAC Soar almost every single day without fail and you can read more about my love for it here. Yep, I am one of those ladies that completely got sucked into the Kylie Jenner lip craze but you know – yolo haha. To spice things up a bit though I have been pairing the stunning mid tone pinky brown liner with MAC Brave and it’s definitely my favorite new lip combo. Brave is the perfect deeper pinky nude lipstick and compliments Soar beautifully. Both combined make the ultimate 90s lip and I love how the lippy makes the finish softer, a tad lighter and somewhat juicier. These bad boys make my lips look 10x bigger and plumper and hang around for hours and hours. Quite the dream team!

MAC Heroine Lipstick (review / here)

When I was giving the Jenner babe look a miss I have been rocking the purple lip. Quite the bold choice but you know how much I favour my daring lip products and this beauty got me hooked with the first application. Heroine is without a doubt the most unique lippy I own and I am head over heels in love with its bright violet purple shade. It’s edgy and feminine and makes every look and outfit that much more exciting, while making my green eyes pop. Heroine ticks all the boxes in the formula department as well and you can see me wearing it here. How beautiful!?

YSL Nail Polish in #16 Mauve Naif (here)

Continuing with the purple theme, the nail polish that has been pretty much glued to my tips in January is this gorgeous YSL baby. What makes it that special? Well the fact that it is true deep purple – it doesn’t go black as you layer it on and you can actually see its stunning shade on all sorts of lighting, which I find rare with dark purples. Mauve Faif stole my heart with its easy to apply formula that dries to a lovely high-shine finish and which stays put for some good five days. Oh and don’t even get me started on the brush – big and wide that covers the nail with one swipe. Brilliant.

Have you tried any of these products before? What have you been obsessing over for the past four weeks?

Lots of love,

Andrea

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Valentine’s Day Beauty

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and even though I am not its biggest fan and rarely actually acknowledge it, I figured it would be fun to show you the makeup I would go for if I was headed on a date with a special someone. I gathered all my guy friends asking them what type of beauty look they are most into and this time notes were takes. Apparently, the minimal, subtle makeup is the way to go for, so ditch the heavy contouring à la Kim K and embrace your natural beauty ladies. Glowing complexion, a dash of mascara and a touch or pink is all you need, so I rummaged though my stash and picked as few bits that scream no-makeup-makeup but at the same time beautifully enhance our features. Let’s discuss…

Starting with the base, this Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Cream* (here) is my best friend when it comes to achieving natural complexion. It has light to medium coverage but still covers imperfections and evens out my skin tone. It blends beautifully and has gorgeous dewy finish that makes the skin radiant and healthy-looking. For concealer, the Benefit Fake Up (here) is my best bet when it comes to brightening the under eye area. It instantly eliminates the signs of fatigue and covers those dark circles perfectly. Fake Up illuminates everything under eyes, while keeping everything hydrated and crease-free. To set everything in place I always opt for my Chanel Les Beiges Powder (here / review), which not only keeps the oils at bay and prevents the foundation and concealer slide off my face but also adds a touch of sheer healthy glow to the skin. No powdery finish, no dry patches accentuated and no pores in sight as well, which I am not complaining about!

To add some dimension to the face I like to call my trusty Sleek Contour Kit (here) to the rescue. I use a touch of the bronzing powder all over my face to warm things up and then gently place some under my cheekbones to help me create the illusion of slimmer face. Slight cheating but shhh, no one has to know! I especially love the bronzer because it doesn’t look muddy and blends effortlessly. For blush, the Physician Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Pink (here / review) is ideal as it adds all the right amounts of pink on the cheeks and highlights them beautifully at the same time. It’s the ultimate brightening blush and I love how it peps up my skin – stuningggg!

Brows need to be taken care of even on the most subtle makeup days but to keep things more natural I opt for the Benefit Gimme Brow* (here / review). This brow volumizing fiber gel makes my oh-so-space brows look fuller and more defied, while keeping the hairs in place from dusk till dawn. I’m not too sure that full-on smoke eye is the best idea when it comes to dates, so I like to keep things more natural and to help me with that I like to use this Too Faced Eye Shadow in Magic Mushroom (here / review). This is easily the most stunning and unique eye shadow I own and I am absolutely smitten by its light rose gold shade. It opens up the look and reflects the light beautifully and I love how creamy and long-lasting it is – perfect date night companion. For mascara, I always go for my Holy Grail - Too Faced LashGASM (here). It ticks all the boxes and offers amazing volume, perfect separation, incredible length and it hold curl as well. You can see it in action here and I also love how black it makes my lashes- total winner.

For lips I wanted something between romantic and sultry and the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Eastend Snob (here) is the perfect option. Its mauve pink shade gives me the Kylie Jenner feels and instantly turns anyone into a bombshell. It’s a massive confidence booster, making the lips bigger and fuller and the matte, unbudgeable formula is brilliant (and kiss-proved ;).

We gotta paint those nails and the one most beautiful, feminine and classy polish I have is Essie Fiji (here / review). It’s bloomin’ marvelous and I love everything about its elegant milky pink shade, which compliments every outfit and makes my hands look tan. Perfume is always a bit tricky but when it comes to dates with my boyfriend Miss Dior Cherie by Dior (here) is what I reach out for the most. It’s a beautiful scent that makes you dream of romantic walks down Champs-Élysées and the youthful, sophisticated fruity notes capture my heart every time I spritz myself with it.

Which are some of your date night beauty essentials? Do you have anything special planned for V-day?

Lots of love,
Andrea

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