Well performing, affordable cosmetics are hard to come by. I’m always excited when I find out a new budget makeup line has been launched. As much as I love premium and high end makeup, part of me is always intrigued by the promises and bargain prices of drug store makeup. I’ve been around the block when it comes to high street cosmetics and most of the time it is always a disappointing venture and I’m left with poor performing products and the £2 I spent on that eye shadow could of gone towards a new MAC pan. But like every brand be it high or low end, I feel that there are always hero products just waiting to be discovered.
I’ve been using bits and pieces from Makeup Revolution for around a year or so now. Last year they had a flash sale online where all their already affordable products were price slashed, leaving many products retailing at just penny prices. I ordered so many products, desperate to find the one life changing item that would become the new staple in my makeup collection.
For a budget brand, Makeup Revolution do well. Any beauty fanatic can see they rip off Too Faced in most of their new lines. They have their own selection of chocolate bar palettes, heart shaped boxed blushes and are probably working on their next mimicking item right now. I have the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette which retails for £40. It’s undeniably beautiful but when you could buy five eye shadow palettes from Makeup Revolution at the same price with reasonable quality, it does make you question the £40 investment.
Their formulations are good. The eyeshadows are somewhat stiff but they still manage to blend well. They don’t have a buttery or creamy feel but the application is still easy. The blush formulas are also similar to their eye shadows, firm but you can still use them to achieve a soft blended look. The range of lip products I’ve tried come in an array of finishes and formulations so there is really something to fit every beauty junkie be it a matte or satin finish lipstick, tinted balms, glosses and lip stains. Every lip product I have tried lacks staying power and the pigment soon disappears.
As a brand Makeup Revolution is on trend and innovative. They follow market leaders like Stila to dictate the direction of their new ranges, meaning consumers can buy into new makeup technology without having to spend through the odds to achieve it. One of my favourite new pieces they added to their collection was the metallic eye shadows. They supply you with a small eye shadow jar filled with pigmented colour that’s a gel consistency. They also supply a small bottle with a drop applicator filled with mixing solution and a little tray. When you mix the solution and the shadow you create a truly stunning, bold and beautiful shadow that looks so flawless. These Eye Foils retail at £4 compared to Stila’s £33 which are literally identical in appearance, application and the kit.
Their colour correction lines are also light years ahead of other affordable makeup brands, providing a range of single item products and kits in varying finishes and formulations, catering to so many different consumers.
The packaging is sleek and pretty. I transport my Makeup Revolution products without fear of them smashing or breaking. The palettes are very sturdy and have a big mirror on the inside of the lid. The blushes, even when in a cardboard box are reinforced with an inner lining and make them very durable. The packaging looks super pretty and would leave any makeup novice thinking the brand was premium.
They also offer good value makeup tools. I have a basic brush kit from them that I use every single day. My personal favourite brushes that I couldn’t be without from the brand are the F103 Foundation Brush that blends even thick formulas very precisely and evenly, the F105 Contouring Brush that’s super soft and dense and E103 Eye Shadow Brush that is very defined and great for a targeted application. They have no shedding of the brush hairs at all and look so beautiful with their rose gold and glossy black handles. These brushes are so affordable and were all available in a Christmas collection kit.
In summary, Makeup Revolution as a budget friendly brand is innovative, with good formulations and pretty packs. They offer far more complex formulas compared to other affordable brands and offer good alternatives to premium makeup items. If you’re selective about what items you purchase rather than going for a mass of product, you won’t be disappointed. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this brand to see what they launch in 2016.
If you enjoyed this please like, comment and subscribe to Girl About Town