The NPLQ is the qualification you need to lifeguard in a pool in the UK, and it's a week long course that I've just completed. Basically, they teach you how to save someone in the water, CPR, First Aid and all the sorts of things you'd need to know to do your job effectively. And we were in the water for hourssss each day (OK, perhaps not 9 and a 1/2. But a LONG TIME.) Naturally, I couldn't NOT wear makeup where other people were around...but I had to improvise.
Behold:
We have an Active Cosmetics Eye/Lip palette, a Barry M 3 in 1 (supposedly) Nail Strenghthener, Base Coat and Top Coat, an MUA nail polish in 'Shade 9', a NYC top coat, an Urban Decay 'Zero' eyeliner and an MUA Pro twist up eyeliner. Apologies for the somewhat natural background, as we've moved house I'm yet to find another suitably brightly lit, flat white surface to photograph products on. Until I construct a light box (or miraculously locate such a surface) photos will be taken outside...
The soft texture of the MUA pencil makes it easy to blend, which is why I use it primarily for filling in my eyebrows. It's not the blackest black, which means that I can overapply a little and I don't look scary/angry. It's slightly oily texture means that it holds up decently in the water, as long as it's not rubbed, and I was too busy desperately trying to follow instructions and swim while dragging big heavy teenage boys to the other side of the pool to start fiddling with my eyebrows, yo. The two lines underneath are the MUA pencil. The big 'UD' is the Urban Decay one...sensible to wear a waterproof pencil in the water, no?
I was planning to have painted nails all week, but these were my hands by the end of the first day - not great! I remember the teacher trying to teach us how to do a spinal board (google, because it's too long to explain here) and we had to support the casualty with our palms facing down. I was staring at my hideously chipped nails as opposed to worrying about the 'casualty' with a potential spinal injury...
At first, I suspected it was merely the brand (even though I'd had no problems with chippping using MUA polishes in the past) so I then painted them with a Barry M polish the next day (same thing) and finally a Nails Inc one (not even a freebie, a genuine, £11 bottle of Nails Inc polish) and the exact same thing happen. Clearly, no brand is immune to prolonged immersion in the toxic soup of chlorine, baby vomit and piss that constitutes poolwater.
Please excuse my photographing of hideously used and abused makeup (I guess that vouches for it's effectiveness? Lol...) but we've misplaced the baby wipes in the move so it's not even like I could clear this up. Regardless, I used one of the lip colours as a blush and a lip tint in the pool, because it's waxy texture meant that it's somewhat water resistant.
A tiny dab like that, mixed with a little moisturiser on the palm of the hand, then BLEND BLEND BLEND like it's the UN truck out of a war zone once applied to the cheek. Then you're good to go. Apply to the lips as normal, though I think I stopped bothering with lip colour after the second day.
I never had it quite that bright, though...
This cloud is a seven.
It was actually rather pleasant taking photos and blogging outside. Might become a regular thing!
The mini trampoline which I was lazing around on while taking photographs.
New garden!
I stumbled upon some rare, highly sought after blue grass. It doesn't look at all like it's been painted with MUA's Shade 9...
Showing posts with label active cosmetics. Show all posts
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NPLQ Face (or makeup to wear when submerged in water for 9 1/2 hours)
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Active Cosmetics Pimp Post
Why is it called a Pimp Post? Because they're a brand that don't seem to be very well covered in the beauty blogging world. So I guess you could say I'm "pimping" out their better products to you, lol.
Questionable terminology aside, moving on...
Active Cosmetics are a brand I’d used before I even got into cosmetic blogging. As far as I’m aware, you can sometimes find their products at other stores or on the web, but I usually just purchase mine from TJ Hughes as it’s easier and more convenient. It’d probably be very hard for international girls to find. They make products under two names. The core line is just called “Active Cosmetics” but they have a sort of summer specific range called “Sun-Kissed” and this seems to sell better and have more products than the core line, which is weird. Meh.
The Lip Glosses
I’m not a big fan of lip glosses to begin with and the moment you pull the wand out of these you get this huge whiff of chemically induced faux fruity sweetness. That was a huge /do not want/ for me and I’m not even particularly sensitive to scented lip products. Even after you’ve applied the product, you can still smell it. Gross. They leave your lips quite dry as well. The colour of the darker gloss was quite nice but I felt the lighter one (which was a sort of 80s frosty pearl colour) was pretty unflattering. I’m not sure if you can buy these separately. I think these came in the Sunkissed set. I definitely wouldn’t buy these on their own.
The Ten Colour Palette
Yes, this palette has four colours missing. I think I used the white shade on the right hand corner in a tutorial for making nail polish out of eyeshadow. I don’t know what’s happened to the other three…
It’s a decently pigmented palette. It did have one of those overly useless applicators which naturally went straight in the bin. Underneath the applicator holder is a mirror which I again appreciated even though it wasn’t of much help being the tiny size that it was. I like the nice champagne shade (at the top, the very first eyeshadow). Actually, saying that, it’s a very wearable palette. If I was into neutrals, I’d get a great deal of use out of this. As it stands now, this is mostly a palette of highlights for me. Still, I would purchase this on it’s own.
The Mini Six Colour Palette
This is tiny! It’s actually quite cute. I personally can’t really see myself using any of the colours in it, but they’re pigmented enough.
The Lip Liner & Eye Liner
The eyeliner is brown. It’s pretty unremarkable to be honest. Sharpens badly, which is my pet peeve when it comes to pencils. You end up with half of the product all over the sharpener blades. Not cool.
I use the lip liner a lot more. It’s a subtle colour which I wear to school sheered out over some balm. It sharpens quite terribly as well, though.
The Mascara
It was a dark brown colour, which was quite cool. The wand was standard, if a bit smaller than normal. I personally didn’t rate the formula, it was too dry and thick for me. Having said that I have had it for a while, so perhaps that was the problem.
The Bronzer/Face Powder
On the back of the container for the Bronzer/Face Powder hybrid, it calls it a face powder and I mentally went “Hell nah”. Seriously, this is sparkle city. I would look in the eyes and laugh in the face of anyone who actually applied this all over their face. Actually, I’m laughing now at the mental image.
It’s gorgeous, though, with plenty of product. I personally like using this as a highlighter, as an eyeshadow, or on my legs if I’m wearing shorts. The brush included is pretty useless but aren’t they all? It comes with a handy mirror, too, which I appreciated.
The product with just one swipe of the finger. Impressive...
The Duo Shadows
Three of these came in a little Sunkissed set. I think they’re adorable, functionality aside. I have a thing for cute little eyeshadows in pots, lol.
The colours compliment each other and I like the pattern stamped on the surface. I find that they’re not as pigmented as their paletted cousins, however.
The Lip & Eye Palette
I love this. It actually came with a mirror but I’ve discarded that as it was too much of a hassle. The lip colours last for a reasonably long time and are quite opaque. I love that you get so much choice within one palette, lip wise. As you can see, I’ve used the last shade a lot! It doesn’t come with a lip brush but the pans are wide enough that you can easily use your fingers if caught without one. The eye colours are great as well. There’s a bit of fallout but nothing unbearable, and there’s a wide range of well pigmented colours. I actually want to get a back up of this, so next time I’m in TJ Hughes I’ll keep a lookout for it! A lot of the colours don’t show up that well as they’re quite close to my skin tone, but I assure you that they are pigmented.
I actually quite like this brand, though availability is limited and the product range is quite narrow. They do good products for a really cheap price. If you live in the UK and have access to the brand at TJ Hughes, perhaps you should check it out. Or if you already have, what do you think about it?
