Mac 217 vs. Zoeva 227

I think pretty much everyone who has social media would have heard about the Mac 217 brush being the holy grail eyeshadow blending brush, right? Perfectly blended eyeshadow has never really been my forte so when I saw loads of positive comments on the Mac 217 about how it makes life 100x easier when it comes to blending eyeshadow I took no notice of the price tag and went ahead and purchased it! It certainly has made my eyeshadow a lot more seamless and I would definitely recommend it to anyone - however I have also come across what I believe to be a perfect dupe for less than half the price.

Since purchasing the Zoeva 227 I use it equally as much as my 217 as they are pretty much the same brush and it saves me the job of cleaning my 217 all the time. They both blend shadows a beautifully as each other and to be honest there are only two minor differences which I have noticed.

(Zoeva 227)

Difference 1:
The bristles of the 227 are a LOT softer than the 217 so it is slightly more comfortable when blending the shadows. I personally don't find the 217 bristles a problem but I have seen a few people find them a little too stiff!

(Mac 217)

Difference 2:

The 217 is slightly more tapered than the 227! However I find that they both pick up the same amount of product and both blend seamlessly.

The Mac 217 retails for £20 and it is available here or the Zoeva 227 retails for £9 and is available here. Considering there is such a price difference between these brushes I would definitely recommend trying the 227 before spending out the the 217 but they are both genuinely good brushes and I couldn't be without either!

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Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors

Clarins is a brand that I can confidently walk up to any of their counters and no matter what I pick up I know it's not going to disappoint, I have done a few posts featuring some favorites of mine and I thought it was about time I continue that list of favourites. 

I have had these in my collection for a little while but recently I have fallen back in love with them and I wear them on a daily basis or at least have one in my bag for when i'm out and about. They are the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors and they are a lip product that every girl needs! I fell totally in love with these when I bought my first one and i've worked my way up to having 3 shades which are 03, 06 and 08. 

(08 Plum Shimmer, 06 Rosewood Shimmer, 03 Nude Shimmer)

I find these perfect for the days when my lips are feeling a bit dry and not ready for a day of  lipstick as they are in-between a lip balm and a lip gloss so even though they're really soothing on the lips they look super pretty and finish off a makeup look perfectly. The formula of these lip perfectors is gorgeous, it leaves your lips looking plump without going overboard glossy! With the key ingredients being Shea Butter, Olive Tree and Rice they soothe, protect and nourish - all whilst looking good, what more could you want? 

The packaging is flawless and extremely high quality! I'm not normally a fan of squeezy tubes, however with the soft fabric applicator this product works perfectly as you get just the right amount of product for each use. Not only is the packing beautiful, the scent is stunning - It's a sweet yet subtle caramel scent and I cannot get enough!

My favourite shade is 100% Rosewood Shimmer 06 as it's the perfect everyday shade. I have been pairing this with my Topshop Lip Contour in Outline and they go absolutely beautifully together! You can check out all the shades available here.

What's your favourite Clarins product?

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