Makeup Haul (MAC, Smashbox & Estee Lauder)

Hi guys :)

I've been in Manchester for a few days so I did a bit of shopping.. Yey :) I bought some of these things from Selfridges and some from The Cosmetics Company Outlet. I will give a short description on each product but I won't go into too much detail as I haven't had a chance to try any of these products out yet. Enjoy!


MAC Lipstick (Strong Woman) :

"Strong Woman" lipstick

This is part of the 'Strength' collection that was released last December. I don't know where this lipstick is available now but I got mine in The Cosmetics Company Outlet in York, England.
This is a matte lipstick and I really like this shade. I'm excited to try it cause I don't have any matte purples!


MAC Lipstick (Royal Azalea) :

"Royal Azalea" lipstick

This is a sheen supreme lipstick. I'm not sure if it's from a collection or if it's part of the permanent collection. This colour is so beautiful and opaque! It looks as if it's going to be super moisturising. I think this will soon become a favourite!


Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation :

Foundation in Ivory Nude 72

I recently noticed that my MAC Studio Fix Fluid isn't giving me as full a coverage as I would like. This foundation had 25% off so I decided to give it a try as I've heard really good things about it! I might do a review on this in the future if anyone would like one :)


MAC Lipstick (Supremely Confident) :

"Supremely Confident" lipstick

This is a another sheen supreme lipstick. It is a very pale nude colour with slight shimmer. It also seems very moisturising. This is a really pigmented lipstick and I don't have any other lipstick in this colour.


MAC Pigment (Bright Fuchsia) :

"Bright Fuchsia" pigment

I've wanted to get some bright coloured pigments for ages. This was my favourite pink colour so I decided to go with it. It has a slight metallic finish but I think it makes it pop!


MAC Pressed Pigment (Blonde Streak) :

"Blonde Streak" pigment

I love this product so much! I've been wanting to buy it for ages and when I saw it for 30% off I couldn't resist. It is like a gold glitter but more opaque because it has a light gold base. I'm so happy to finally have this in my collection!

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer :

Concealer in shade NC15

I have read really great reviews on this concealer so I wanted to see what the hype was! I don't actually use concealer everyday so I thought that I might use this to mix in with my foundation for a more full coverage. I'm looking forward to seeing how this works out :)

MAC Extra Dimension Eyeshadow (Opalesse) :

Opalesse eyeshadow

Like the pressed pigment, I eyed this product for ages when it was in stores. It is a white based eyeshadow with blue and purple reflect glitter and it's so gorgeous! I'm really excited to do a purple eye look with this eyeshadow.

MAC Pigment (Full Force Violet) :

"Full Force Violet" Pigment

I got this the same time as the other pigment while I was looking for brighter colours. One of the girls that was working at MAC was wearing this on her eyes and it looked gorgeous! It is quite matte I think and it doesn't seem as easy to work with as the other pigment but we'll see what happens :)

Smashbox Lipgloss (Pout) :

"Pout" lipgloss

When I saw this lipgloss it reminded be of NARS 'Turkish Delight'. It is the same milky light pink colour but with a slight pink shimmer. I think this would look gorgeous over a nude lipstick to brighten it up a bit!

MAC Extra Dimension Eyeshadow (Blue Orbit) :

"Blue Orbit" eyeshadow

Despite the name, this eyeshadow it more of a purple than a blue. It reminds me of a more creamy version of MAC 'Stars n Rockets'. These eyeshadows seem like they will blend really easily and I will use this alongside the 'Opalesse' eyeshadow for an extra "pop"!

MAC Blusher (Immortal Flower) :

"Immortal Flower" Blusher

This blusher is from the recent "All About Orange" collection. I didn't buy it when the collection came out because it was sold out in every store I visited. It's like a cream soda kind of colour or a very light peach. It is quite powdery but I really light it for pale skin!



Thank you so much for reading :) If you have any questions leave a comment! 


Love Shannon x


Instagram : @shannonbowes

My top 10 MAC eyeshadows

Hi guys :)

This post is on my top 10 MAC eyeshadows. The eyeshadows featured are a mixture of colours but ones that I use very often on myself and other people. Some of the eyeshadows are staples and some are a bit more adventurous :) I think all of the eyeshadows are quite neutral though. Enjoy!


#1 Vanilla :

Left without flash...Right with flash

The picture does not do this eyeshadow justice. Vanilla has a 'velvet' finish and I think it's quite pigmented. I use this eyeshadow on the brow bone to highlight. I feel like it's perfect because there's not too much shimmer but it still catches the light. It is more of a pink tone than a yellow tone with a slight silver shimmer. I love this colour!


#2 Nylon :

Left without flash...Right with flash

Nylon is such a pretty colour. It is my favourite inner corner highlight colour! This eyeshaow is a frost finish. It is quite frosty but instead of looking harsh, it's actually quite warm. It is definitely more of a yellow based highlighter. I highly recommend this.. So go and buy it now :)


#3 Retrospeck :

Left without flash...Right with flash

I love this eyeshadow so much, it is definitely one of my firm favourites. It is beautiful when applied wet (I use fix+) and has a lovely metallic sheen. It is a lustre finish eyeshadow but I don't find that it has any fallout. I use this eyeshadow most days, sometimes with some gold glitter on top. 


#4 Honey Lust :

Left without flash...Right with flash

This eyeshadow is a beautiful warm neutral colour. As the name would suggest, it's a lustre finish eyeshadow. It comes off quite glittery but with a metallic sheen. This colour looks sooo good with blue eyes because of it's coppery colour. I feel like this would be gorgeous on a bride for a pop of colour that flatters almost everyone.


#5 Woodwinked :

Left without flash...Right with flash

This is probably my favourite MAC eyeshadow! I love the texture of it, it's so smooth and blendable due to it being a veluxe pearl finish. This is another colour that looks amazing with blue eyes but I actually feel like it compliments every eye colour in a different way. It looks different on every person but it always looks nice. If you don't have this already, you NEED it!


#6 Concrete :

Left without flash...Right with flash

I don't actually use this eyeshadow for eye makeup looks. Instead, I use it to fill in my eyebrows. I love that it's matte but I love even more that it is completely cool-toned. Click this link to see my eyebrow tutorial on Instagram : http://instagram.com/p/dP0Ia4PAfE/ I LOVE this eyeshadow!


#7 Espresso :

Left without flash...Right with flash

This is my favourite MAC crease colour. It is a matte finish eyeshadow with a lovely warm undertone. It is very pigmented and really easy to blend. I use it almost everyday as a transition colour. I think it would work well with most skin tones and it is definitely a staple colour.


#8 Rule :

Left without flash...Right with flash

Okay so I know this is orange but I absolutely love it! It looks gorgeous with Woodwinked and a deep dark crease. I love using it to blend out the crease colour and it looks lovely as an everyday look with a gold eyeshadow. Although this is quite scary, I definitely recommend trying some kind of orange eyeshadow. It worked for me :)


#9 Antiqued :

Left without flash...Right with flash

This eyeshadow has a similar feel to Woodwinked as it's very soft and blendable. It is a beautiful coppery red colour with a lovely metallic finish. It is extremely opaque and you could almost create an eye makeup look using just this eyeshadow. I love it!


#10 Black Tied :

Left without flash...Right with flash

This is almost a 3D coloured eyeshadow. It isn't the most blendable but I would use it over a matte black or to deepen the crease so that doesn't bother me. It has a matte black base colour with different coloured glitters running through it. This is such a unique eyeshadow, I have never come across anything like it and I think it's definitely worth having in your collection!

Thank you so much for reading :)

Love Shannon x

Instagram: @shannonbowes <3

My Favourite Make-up Brushes

Hi guys :)

This post is on my favourite brushes for applying all different types of makeup. I use these brushes every single day and I'd be lost without them. Hope you enjoy!


Real Techniques Buffing Brush : 

Foundation Brush

This is my favourite brush in the world for applying foundation! I'm 90% sure that the hairs are synthetic, which means that it works extra-well with liquid foundation. This brush makes it so easy to really buff the foundation into the skin (hence the name) for a seamless and flawless finish. This brush comes as part of the "Core Collection" set from Real Techniques. It is without doubt my favourite brush from the set but I also love the contour brush and detail brush. Go and buy this nowwwww!!


ELF Powder Brush :

Powder/ Foundation Brush

I love this brush so much! It is part of the "Studio" line from eyeslipsface and such good value for money. I usually use this to apply my powder. It's very dense so it packs on the product without looking too cakey. I sometimes use this to apply my foundation if I want an extra flawless finish that looks good in photographs. This is an amazing brush for the price.. I have three :)


MAC 138 : 

Blusher Brush

This is a great multitask brush because it's tapered. I use it for powder, blusher and bronzer. I have recently been using it more for blusher than anything else. I dip the very tip of the brush into the product so that when I apply it to my face, the other hairs blend it in. I definitely recommend this brush!


MAC 208 :

Eyebrow Brush

Oh my goodness.. This is definitely one of my top 3 makeup brushes! I use it on my eyebrows with MAC concrete eyeshadow. It has the definition of a pencil because the angle is so sharp. I could not live without this brush in my makeup collection!


MAC 109 : 

Contour Brush

This is my favourite brush for contouring my cheeks. It blends the product while applying it in a precise line.. It's amazing! It's also really good for applying blush to the apples of the cheeks because of it's shape. I love this brush :)


MAC 217 : 

Eyeshadow Brush

I'm sure you all know about this brush, it's probably one of the most famous MAC brushes there is. I love to use it for applying eyeshadow and blending. It's an amazing blending brush! The hairs are super soft and the colours transfer really well. This is definitely a must have in any make up collection!


Real Techniques Blush Brush : 

Bronzer Brush

This is another great quality brush for the price. I use this to warm up the face with bronzer after I contour. This also has synthetic hairs and it's tapered for seamless application. The hairs are really soft on this brush so it doesn't scratch the skin at all. I use it in circular motions for an even application. I highly recommend this brush!

MAC 239 :

Eyeshadow Brush

This is my favourite brush for applying eyeshadow directly to the lids. It packs on the colour without having a lot of fallout and it keeps the eyeshadow looking vibrant. It's quite dense and it's the perfect size to cover the whole eyelid in one sweep. It is super easy to clean considering the white hairs and I think it's just fab :)

ELF Small Stipple Brush :

Highlighting Brush

This is the perfect size for highlighting the cheekbones. I stipple on my cream highlighter with this brush and it gives a lovely diffused look. This is another brush from the eyeslipsface "Studio" line and really good value. I will definitely be buying more of these in the future :)

MAC 224 :

Eyeshadow Brush

This brush is probably my all time favourite eyeshadow brush. I only use it for blending but it is honestly the best blending brush I have ever used. It gives a flawless diffused look to the eye without compromising on the colour. It fits perfectly into the crease and the hairs don't cling on to the colour so it doesn't need to be cleaned as often as some others. I would definitely recommend this as a staple in any make up kit/collection. I love it :)

I hope this is helpful to somebody! Thank you so much for reading :) Don't forget to follow me on Instagram!

Love from Shannon x 

Everyday Make-up Routine

Hi guys :)

This post is about my everyday makeup routine. I'll talk about what products I use, how I use them and what I use to apply them! I will also be doing another post on my favourite brushes soon :) Enjoy!

My everyday mess :D

Face Products : 

Everyday face products

#1 Benefit the POREfessional primer - This is such an amazing product! I know it is loved by so many people and it is definitely a firm favourite of mine :) It is described as a "PRO balm to minimise the appearance of pores". I don't really have a problem with pores but this product just makes your skin so smooth. It gives an excellent base to apply foundation on top of and it looks flawless every time. I apply this primer after moisturiser and before foundation using my hands. This is definitely a must have!

#2 MAC Studio Fix Fluid (NC15) - This foundation is my all time favourite. I try others regularly but I always come back to this product. It is a full coverage foundation and has a matte finish which I love! It is a great colour match for my skin and gives a flawless finish while still letting my natural oils come through. I apply this foundation with a Real Techniques buffing brush. 

#3 MAC Studio Finish Concealer (NC15) - I don't always use concealer but when I do this is the one that I reach for. I like that it's light enough to use under the eyes but it still has buildable coverage to cover up any blemishes. I apply this concealer with a Real Techniques deluxe crease brush for under the eyes or with my index finger when covering blemishes.

#4 Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (Translucent) - Oh my days go and buy this product!! I am absolutely in love with it. It makes my makeup last so much longer and leaves a matte finish without looking powdery. It doesn't compare with any other powder I have used and in my opinion is ten times better than my MAC msf which I used to use all the time. I apply this product with a MAC 138 brush. You need this in your life!

#5 MAC Cream Colour Base (Pearl) - This is my favourite everyday highlighter. I use it on my brow bone, on the top of my cheek bones and above my upper lip. I love that it's a cream product and I really love that it's more of a yellow-tone highlighter! You only need a small amount of this product for a gorgeous glow and it lasts all day on the skin. I apply this with an ELF small stipple brush.

#6 Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder (Natural 01) - I did a review on this product in my previous blog post so I won't go into too much detail. I use this to contour my cheeks and around my temples. I apply this product with a MAC 109 brush.

#7 MAC Bronzing Powder (Matte Bronze) - This bronzer is the perfect colour for my pale skin. I use this to warm up my face and blend in the contour. It's a warm colour that gives a lovely glow to the cheeks without having any shimmer. I use this all over the face and I apply it with a Real Techniques blush brush.

#8 MAC Blusher (Melba) - This is my all time favourite blusher. It's the perfect mix of peach and pink. It looks good with almost any make up look and it gives my cheeks a natural pinched look. I apply this blusher with a MAC 168 brush.

Eyebrow Products :

Everyday eyebrow products

#1 MAC Eyeshadow (Concrete) - This is my perfect eyebrow colour. It is completely cool-toned and matte. I have used this product with both brown and blonde hair and I think it works for both. I use this to fill in the centre of my eyebrows and to make them slightly darker. I apply this product with a MAC 108 brush.

#2 MAC Eyebrow Pencil (Spiked) - I absolutely love this product! You can literally draw on hairs because the pencil has such a fine point. It is slightly warm-toned but when I set it with the eyeshadow it isn't noticeable. I use this to outline my eyebrows and to draw in a slight arch.

#3 MAC Brow Set (Clear) - This is my favourite eyebrow gel. It sets the hairs in place and it lasts all day. I use it before and after I draw in my eyebrows. The clear brow set is my favourite although it doesn't stay clear for long! 

Eye Makeup Products :

Everyday eye makeup products 

#1 Urban Decay Primer Potion (Eden) - I love this product so much! This is the best eye primer I have ever used. It makes your eyeshadow last all day and night without creasing and it intensifies the colour of your eyeshadow. You get so much product considering the price. I apply the primer using my ring finger and I would definitely recommend this if you're thinking about buying it!

#2 MAC Eyeshadow Palette - I know this is not a product that you can just buy but it has all the colours that I use most often. I use Nylon as my inner corner highlight with a MAC 239 brush. To define the crease I use Espresso with a MAC 217 brush and I use Rule to blend that out with a MAC 224 brush. I use Woodwinked all over the lid with a touch of Black Tied on the outer v. I apply both colours with a MAC 239 brush. I put Mulch and Amber Lights under the eye using a MAC 219 brush. I will be doing a post on my top 10 MAC eyeshadows soon.

#3 MAC Eyeliner Pencil (Feline & Coffee) - These are my two favourite pencil liners. Feline is a black eyeliner and Coffee is a brown eyeliner. They are very creamy and pigmented and glide on so smooth. Depending on how dramatic my eye makeup is, I switch between colours almost everyday.

#4 Catrice Liquid Liner (Dating Joe Black 010) - I only just recently started using liquid eyeliner again after using gel liners and felt tip liners for so long. This one has a really thin tip so you can have the line as thick or thin as you like. I love how opaque the colour is as I find with some liquid liners that they are not quite black when they dry. I really recommend this eyeliner... It's a great product and a great price! P.S I forgot to include this in the picture, sorry :)

#5 Benefit They're Real Mascara - This is by far my favourite mascara right now. I love the brush and I love the formula! It makes my eyelashes so full and lengthened. I will definitely repurchase this when my current one dries up. I'm obsessed with it right now. It doesn't run or flake on me and it only comes off with eye makeup remover. I'm in love! 

Lip Products : 

My go-to lip combination right now

#1 MAC Lip Pencil (Subculture) - I LOVE this lip liner so much! It's the perfect "my lips but better" colour and it is really long lasting. It is slightly drying on the lips when it's applied by itself but I usually apply a lipstick over it so that doesn't bother me at all. You get a decent amount of product for your money and I know I will repurchase this over and over again!

#2 MAC Lipstick (Myth) - I mentioned this lipstick in my top 10 post so again I won't go into too much detail. I love pairing this with my Subculture lip liner for the perfect nude lip. Together they create the illusion of full lips and the combination suits my skintone. The lipstick is very moisturising and definitely a firm favourite!

#3 MAC Lustreglass (Love Nectar) - This lipgloss is definitely my favourite at the moment. It works well with lots of different lipsticks and gives a lovely finish when applied on it's own. It is a peachy-nude colour with a gold shimmer. I love the brush as I feel you can be more precise as opposed to using a doe foot applicator. I adore this product :)

I apologise for the length of this blog post but I thought there was no point in doing it if I wasn't going to go into detail! I will be having a giveaway on my Instagram account (@shannonbowes) very soon. If you're interesting check out my page :D

Thank you so much for reading :)

Love from Shannon x

Review : Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder

Hi guys :)


So I heard a lot of good things on other blogs and Youtube about the Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder. I decided to give in and see what the hype was!

Beautiful packaging

I've had the bronzer for about six weeks now and I find myself using it almost everyday. I have it in the colour "Natural 1", which I thought suited my pale skin tone best. The colour is a golden tan although I find that it comes off quite red on the cheeks. The packaging is so classic and elegant... I love it! I really like that the packaging is so durable. I think it protects the product well. 

Inside the compact

The bronzer comes in compact style, with a mirror in the lid. You get 8 grams of product inside - which is a decent amount considering you only need a tiny bit on your brush. 

Left swatch with flash....Right without flash

The bronzing powder has AMAZING colour pay off! You need the tiniest amount for a beautiful sun-kissed glow. It is a matte bronzer so I use it to contour as well as to warm up the cheeks. I use the bronzer with a MAC 109 brush to contour or with a Real Techniques Blush brush to bronze. 

I paid around £30/€40 for the bronzer which I think is quite a lot. However, I would definitely repurchase this product in the future (although I doubt that I will need to for awhile). 


Thank you so much for reading :)

Love from Shannon x

P.S find me on Instagram @shannonbowes <3

My top 10 MAC lipsticks

Hi guys :)

MAC lipsticks are my all time favourite but with so many choices it's hard to decide on a colour, let alone a finish! So I put together some pictures of my top 10 lipsticks. I tried to include a variety of colours and finishes that work for most skin tones. Feel free to comment any questions! Also this is in no particular order, I hope you enjoy :)


#1 : Snob

Left with flash....Right without flash

Snob is a muted blue-toned pink. It is a satin finish. This works well with all skin tones but is probably more suited to a medium tan to pale. I have repurchased Snob in the past cause it's such a good everyday colour and I would always recommend it!


#2 : Rubywoo

Left with flash....Right without flash

Rubywoo is another blue-toned colour. It's a matte finish and a beautiful true red that lasts for hours on my lips. I would recommend this more for a pale skin tone but again it looks AMAZING with a tan!


#3 : Myth

Left with flash....Right without flash

Myth is most definitely one of the more well known MAC lipsticks. It is an amazing nude colour and I think it's one of the best on the market. It is a satin finish. I think it's more of a peachy nude rather than a brown nude and I love it!


#4 : Girl About Town

Left with flash....Right without flash

Girl About Town is a gorgeous light berry colour with an amplified finish. It is true to colour and so vibrant! It has a slight shimmer that makes your lips look really moisturised but still opaque.


#5 : Hue

Left with flash....Right without flash

Hue is a light pink nude that works well on all skin tones. It is a glaze finish with moisturising qualities. It is one of my favourite MAC lipsticks and I wear it most days.

#6 : Rebel

Left with flash....Right without flash

Rebel is my favourite lipstick for winter. It is really good for creating a dark lip that's not drying (which is great for chapped lips). It is a satin finish and lasts well on the lips. Love it :)

#7 : Saint Germain

Left with flash....Right without flash

Saint Germain is the perfect barbie pink. It is an amplified finish that comes off really opaque. I would recommend it more for paler skin tones because of the fact that it's another blue-toned pink. I love wearing this lipstick on nights out.

#8 : Up The Amp

Left with flash....Right without flash

Up The Amp is my favourite purple lipstick. It is such a universal colour with great pay off. It is an amplified finish and looks good with almost all eye makeup looks.

#9 : Impassioned

Left with flash....Right without flash

Impassioned is a beautiful raspberry colour. Like with the others, it's amplified finish gives it great colour pay off. It has a slight shimmer and looks really good with medium to dark skin tones. It stains the lips slightly but this just makes the colour last longer.

#10 : Sunny Seoul

Left with flash....Right without flash

Sunny Seoul is my all time favourite MAC lipstick! It is a beautiful peachy pink with a slight gold shimmer. It looks amazing on tanned skin but works well universally. It is a cremesheen finish so it's almost glossy and really moisturising. Go and buy it!!

Thank you so much for reading,

Love from Shannon x