My Swap with Lipstick Rules

I recently took part in an international swap with the very lovely Michelle of Lipstick Rules. I love swaps and find it to be a great way to try new products and brands that aren't available in the UK. Also, exchanging products with someone you've got to know through blogging means that you tend to have a good insight into the sorts of products and colours they would like. When you see the eyeshadows and liners below you'll realise that Michelle has a very good sense of my taste. Do I spy taupe?!

Thanks to Michelle I have already tried a couple of things from Annabelle and Lise Watier and really like the brands. I'm very excited to try the chunky Annabelle eye pencils as the Annabelle smoothliner that I've posted about previously is of an excellent quality. Joe Fresh is a totally new brand to me but I am thrilled with the bits I have. The eyeshadows have already been cracked open and I can't wait to try both of the blushers. Something of the packaging reminds me a little of the Topshop cosmetics line. I have yet to try any of the Topshop cosmetics but always here great things about their cream blushers.

I couldn't resist including an extra look at that Tokidoki blusher brush. My little girls eyes lit up when she spotted it and I'm pretty sure she has decided this is hers!

Missing from the main picture is one item I was extremely excited to try. So excited in fact that I broke my 'no touching pre-photos' rule. What can I say, with a name like Sludge, I wanted in! Michelle posted about the Annabelle Smudge paints here and they are a really interesting formula. Somewhere between a cream eyeshadow and a gel liner, these will function as both. You can use all over the lid smudged out, as a base for eyeshadow or just as a liner. The packaging is interesting too. There's a brush hidden inside the lid for convenient application. Sludge is a great colour and darker than it appears through the glass pot. I've used it quite a few times already and I think it makes an excellent quick smudgy eye look. I especially like layering taupe eyeshadows over the top.

Many thanks to Michelle for all the lovely items. I anticipate hours of fun playing with all of these new things! Have you tried any of these Canadian brands? Which brands do you wish you had access to where you live?