Amsterdam Beauty Haul

Last week I headed over to Amsterdam for a four-day holiday with my friend Sophia - she's about to move back home to Greece so our little four-day trip was a celebratory farewell to the time we'd spent together at University this year. It was our second trip to Amsterdam (I went with my friend Tom last year, and Sophia has visited before with her family) and it was a lovely break. I'm not sharing any of the photos we took on my blog but I did post a couple of snaps on Instagram so if you're interested in getting a glimpse of what we got up to then you can find me by searching for OneLittleVice. 

While we were there we did a spot of shopping and I picked up a couple of new bits from the drugstore. There was one repeat purchase (Catrice's Eyebrow Filler has become an make-up essential for me) as well as some great new beauty finds that I want to share with you. I had a serious make-up clear out just before I left so there were a couple of gaps in my collection that I needed to fill, as well as some impulse purchases based on very good first impressions. 

Etos' Matte Finish Lipstick in Shade 003

In my blog sale I sold my beloved Mac Costa Chic lipstick - I didn't wear it enough to justify keeping it. This Etos lipstick is a very close drugstore dupe for Costa Chic and at only €3 I couldn't pass up giving it a try. I'm not a big fan of the texture of the lipstick (it is very gritty) but the colour is really gorgeous and in my now reduced collection I can see myself reaching for it quite often.

Catrice's Ultimate Shine Gel Colour Lipstick in Shade 090, Better than Nude

This lipstick has the smoothest and most hydrating finish and the colour is a very flattering nude shade that is unlike anything in my collection. It is really easy to wear, easy to re-apply and because it is very creamy it lasts well on my lips. I think this is the nicest formula (for everyday lipsticks) that Catrice makes and I would very highly recommend it. 

Catrice's Ultimate Shine Lipstick in Shade 010, Good Nudes!

I bought this lipstick purely for the shade, it is a really unique find for the drugstore - it's a highly metallic gold. I know that shades like these can be found in Mac and other higher-end brands, but the colour and formula is almost unheard of in the drugstore. Good Nudes! works really well layered over other lipsticks, especially nude shades, to add dimension to lips. It's a bit of a marmite shade but I really love it and the formula is gorgeous, less creamy than the Gel formula but less matte than the Ultimate Colour range.

Catrice's Ultimate Colour Lipstick in 340, Berry Bradshaw

Having bopped through Mac in duty free and passed up the opportunity to get my hands on a reduced price lipstick I decided to pick up what I think is a very good dupe for Mac's Rebel lipstick, it is just a touch less purple which I actually prefer. Overall, Berry Bradshaw is a gorgeous berry shade with a lovely consistency. The formula of the Ultimate Colour range is thick and creamy, very reminiscent of Mac's amplified lipsticks, and since my purchase of the shade 'Matt-erial Girl' last year it has become one of my favourites.

Catrice's Eyebrow Filler Perfecting and Shaping Gel

Whenever I can't be bothered to fill in my eyebrows with a pencil I turn to Catrice's Eyebrow Filler (which is nearly everyday…) I've been using it for over a year now and I couldn't help repurchasing it when I returned to Amsterdam. I much prefer the consistency to other brow gels that I've tried and the colour is perfect for me.

Catrice's Made to Stay Smoothing Lip Polish in 020, Jen and Berry's

I bought this on a total whim. It's a lip product that is very reminiscent of L'Oreal's Glam Shine Stain Splash (a range I really fell in love with last year). However, this product from Catrice has a thinner and lighter consistency, in my opinion the colour range is much better and the products leave a light even stain on the lips after the gloss wears off. All in all, I'm really impressed and can see this lip product getting a lot of use. The colour is very 'me', a my lips but better pink/berry wash of colour that smells a little bit like gummy sweets (not too sickly, but very sweet).

Catrice's Made to Stay Highlighter Pen in Shade 010, Eye Like!

This might be the only product in my haul that I don't 100% love. It's a precise application highlighter which I imagined would be easy to use on cheekbones and brow bones. The colour is very nice but it has a lot of shimmer/glitter which I wasn't expecting. Despite this, I still like the finish, however, the product sets incredibly quickly making it difficult to blend and achieve a natural looking finish. I'll keep on trying with this one but for now I'm not entirely sold. 

BeYu Color Biggie Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick Crayon in Shade 330 and 280

I've been keen to purchase a couple of Mac's Paint Pots, especially the shades Painterly and Groundwork. I purchased these Color Biggie Crayons from BeYu in place of Paint Pots as they are equally very creamy eyeshadow products which I intend to use as everyday eye bases. The Shade 280 is matte and has a similar colour and finish to Mac's Painterly. 330 has a very pretty and subtle shimmery finish that I really like and it is a more natural and taupe-y shade than my much beloved Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze. I have high hopes for these two products, and if you'd be interested I could do a post on them featuring swatches and a couple of FOTDs.

Please let me know if you'd like to see some FOTD's featuring any of these products or some full reviews featuring swatches etc. Have you tried any of these products or any other products from these brands?