[AD – Gifted & Affiliate Links] My Beauty Expert Haul

I’ve been a fan of Beauty Expert for almost as long as I’ve been a blogger. It’s been one of those places where I’ve found the products I love and need at reasonable prices. I’ve discovered new brands there that I hadn’t previously heard of and have never been disappointed with what I’ve chosen. As well as being an online beauty retailer they give great advice and carefully curate beauty edits so there’s always something to tempt me.

Just recently I visited Beauty Expert to spend a voucher I won. So I had a good mooch about and ended up choosing three products that I’ve heard an awful lot about but never tried personally. They are the iconic The Balm Mary Lou Manizer and Pixi Glow Tonic,  and the stunning Stila Matte’n’Metal eyeshadow palette.

Ok so The Balm Mary Lou Manizer is basically a highlighter and of course, I’ve had plenty of highlighters before so  I wondered what it was that could be so special about this one. I mean I’ve heard people stocking up on these so they never risk running out. I didn’t really get it. Even when it arrived, beautifully packaged as it is, I still didn’t get it.  Holding it in my hands it didn’t even really look that highlight-y, more like a pressed powder. Still, I thought I’d give it a shot and I popped some on a brush, and Woah! 

This is such a special product in my view. It’s really finely milled with a depth to it that gives a real glow without having that sparkly look that you can get from some highlighters. I haven’t used anything but this since I’ve had it and I reckon it will take something really special to knock this one off my highlighter top spot! This is the original honey-hued shade but it also comes in rose and you can use it on cheeks and brow bones, to brighten your eyes or as a light covering all over for a healthy glow. It’ll set you back £16 but I don’t think you’ll regret it. 

I’ve wanted some Stila beauty products for so long! I’ve seen them at press days, in stores in friends’ make-up bags, and lusted over them. So this Stila Matte’N’Metal eyeshadow palette is a really special purchase for me. There are 12 shades – 6 matte and six metallics that cover the range of nude, neutral, rose and gold shades that I love. What’s more, they come in a beautiful gold case with a good mirror that’s made to last. I also like the fact that it’s a palette with plenty of choices that’s still small enough to fit in a make-up bag and take to work or on a day out. The powder is triple-milled and easy to blend with giving a finish that’s true to the colour in the pan. 

Shades are Vintage (Matt Pale Neutral Pink), Velvet (Matt Pale Pink), Feathered (Matt Pale Sand), Fringe (Matt Light Taupe), Suede (Matt Mid-Tone Mauve Pink), Velour (Matt Mid-Tone Warm Tan), Bohemian (Metallic Light Pewter), Retro (Metallic Rose Gold), Sequin (Metallic Gold), Smolder (Metallic Smoky Gunmetal), Sizzle (Metallic Rosy Copper), Flare (Metallic Cool Bronze). It’s priced at £39.

My third and final pick – for this shopping “trip” at least is the  Pixi Glow Tonic. Ostensibly this is a toner and yet, every blogger, every beauty writer, and their dog (ok not dog that was an exaggeration!) rates this product. Pixi Glow Tonic is an exfoliating brightening toner designed to help firm and tighten normal to dry, dull, and aging skin. It removes dead skin cells so that skin is left healthy and radiant-looking. Ingredients include 5% glycolic acid to hydrate and aloe vera and ginseng to nourish. It’s suitable for all skin types, is alcohol-free, and isn’t tested on animals. 

I’m loving how it makes my skin feel so far. I don’t feel that it’s right to give a final view on this yet having only used it for a week but I’ll be sure to come back and update you soon. It costs £18 for 250ml – so it’s not cheap but I figure that if all the great reviews I’ve read are true then I won’t be regretting the spend. 

What do you think of my choices? Do you have any of these products or are any of them on your wish list? Let me know in the comments section.