Brush With Fashion

The Body Shop and London College of Fashion are launching a limited-edition, sustainable, cruelty-free makeup and brushes collection for Spring 2011 called "Brush with Fashion".  I was fortunate enough to be able to sample some products from the new line and give you guys an honest review of them!  In the above picture, I am wearing a look I created using what was sent to me.  Here are the items I received: (minus another eyeshadow palette, which I'm saving for a Valentine's Day look ;) 

My first reaction - I am in LOVE with the packaging!  I love LCF branding anyway but the artwork for this new collection is so pretty and, well...stylish!  A closer look at the products: 

The illuminating face base (shade 01).  A very sheer base, comparable to a tinted moisturizer.

Pros:

I thought the packaging is cute, simple and chic (although I ended up not using the brush, I used my own foundation one...just personal preference!).  The coverage is very light, which suits me fine as I like a more natural look.  I have said before that after trying Bare Minerals, I don't think I will ever go back to heavy or full-coverage foundations. It's mineral foundation or tinted moisturiser all the way for me!  I was very happy with the natural look that this product gave my face.

Cons:

Of course, if you suffer from acne/scarring/redness of any kind this will definitely not be the best base to cover that up.  Also, because it has illuminating properties and I have oily/combination skin I needed to set it with a powder.  This won't be a problem for people with dry skin though.  

EDIT: I just discovered that the illuminating face base is actually not a foundation, although you can use it as one :)  Sorry about that guys, it's actually just a highlighter!  Although I quite liked it as an overall base I must say ;)

Eyeshadow palette 01, Boho Beauty.  

It contains four shades - New Nude (peach highlight), Vintage Apricot (matte orange), Boho Brown (light brown) and Haute Chocolate (a deep chocolate brown).  

Pros:

What I really liked about these quads is that they come with an actual brush and a mini eye-pencil.  This one came with Rich Brown eye definer.  I actually quite like The Body Shop's eye pencils so I was happy about this.  This palette's eyeshadows are all matte and holy moly, are they pigmented!  I was extremely impressed with these.  They come off SO strong that I really had to blend them to achieve a more natural look.  And no fall-out, except for the darkest brown (a little).  These are very high quality shadows and easy to use.  A big thumbs up!  

Cons: 

I honestly don't have any!

I used Vintage Apricot on the lid, Boho Brown in the crease and Haute Chocolate in the outer 'v' and lower lashline.  I then used New Nude on the brow-bone and Rich Brown eye pencil on the waterline and upper lashline.

Hi-Shine Lip Treatment (this did not come with a name, but is a shimmery caramel)

and Tailored Cheek Tint in 01 Hot Pink.

Lip Treatment Pros:

As with all Body Shop lip products, this is very fragrant so if you like scented lipgloss you'll like this.  In my case, it brought me back to my childhood when I would buy The Body Shop lip balm in every flavour so I loved the scent :)  I also really like the packaging!  Again, it seems like they're running with the "brush" theme in that almost every product comes with a little brush applicator.  This was also very sticky and had excellent staying power, as it stayed on almost all day (until I ate) and I didn't feel like I needed to keep re-applying like with most lipglosses.

Lip Treatment Cons: 

I didn't think the colour was very pigmented at all, and was a little disappointed about that because their Love Gloss from their Winter Collection was!  I was expecting more of a brown/caramel shade, instead it came off quite clear.  Perhaps paired over a similar shade of lipstick this would work better.

Cheek Tint Pros:

I loved that this gave me a very fresh-faced look and although the shade is probably not one that I would pick myself, I do think it's pretty.  Again, like with the shadows this product is highly pigmented.  A little goes a very long way!  In fact, I had to apply some powder on top afterwards as what I thought was a tiny amount actually ended up being far too much!

Cheek Tint Cons:

Perhaps it's just the fact that I'm not a big fan of cheek stains or cream blushes but this wasn't my favourite.  I found it quite difficult to use and a little patchy.  However, I think I need to just get used to applying it better.  In this case, I squeezed it right onto my cheeks whereas applying it to my hand first and then using a brush to stipple it on would have been better.  Then again, I am partial to powder blushes so that could be why it was the product I liked least!

Overall I was very pleased with this collection.  I think the packaging is beautiful and was really impressed with quality of their shadows.  Let me know what you think!  Does this look like something you would be interested in?

Stay Stylish!

xoxo

Disclaimer: These products were kindly sent to me for reviewing purposes.  I was not paid for my review, nor am I affiliated with the brand in anyway.  My honest opinion, as always :)