May Favourites

We are entering the half way point to the year, where has time gone!? As Summer approaches now I am all about the summery bronzey makeup look which I covered in this post. I haven’t been wearing much makeup this month and instead letting my skin breathe but when I have been opting for a little makeup, I have been going for a similar look and these products are ones that I have been loving lately.

In terms of base and application, I have loved a soft glowy look. To achieve that, I have been enjoying using the Nars Illuminator in the shade Copacabana which is a gorgeous pearl-y highlight. This can be used on top of foundation, under or mixed in. I have loved mixing it in with my foundation to create a gorgeous fresh glowy base. To apply my base, I have became a lover of the Beauty Blender. I am a total sponge convert. I spoke in this post about why I think this is worth the hype, it is super easy to apply and blend product particularly liquid based products like the Nars highlighter or foundation. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without this!

To amp up the warmth in my skin, I have been loving two cheek products. The first is the Soap and Glory Wonderbronze Shimmer Brick bronzer. I always prefer matte bronzers to shimmery formulations however with Summer in the air, I am all about the bronze-y glowing look. I basically want all the shimmery bronzers and I turned to an old product in my stash and regained my love. I like to swirl my brush in this and apply in a three shape to the sides of my face and to add a gorgeous glow. Some of the shades can be quite dark so I like to take this lightly for a soft glowy look. How many more times will I say glowy, sorry!

To finish the cheeks, I am also loving the Tarte blush in Exposed which is a gorgeous matte mauve, neutral pink shade that is super flattering. The shade adds a nice level of warmth to the skin without being overpowering and also adds definition and sculpts the face. Lastly, I also have been loving a coral-pink lip combo, perfect for summer. My Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks all seem to work well with my Summer beauty stash and I have been loving a combo of two. A light layer of Sexy Sienna, a gorgeous bright coral shade teamed with a topping of Bitch Perfect, a soft pink nude makes the perfect light everyday Summer lip.

What have you been loving lately?

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My Current Spring Glowy Makeup Menu

I would always think of myself being more into Fall makeup preferring bold lips and a semi-matte complexion however as of lately I am all over the fresh glowy bronzed look perfect for Spring. I have to blame the sudden summery weather that has hit the UK recently making me go all heart-eyed emoji over all the highlighters and shimmery bronzers! I also picked up a swoon-worthy peach-y toned palette that has Summer written all over it and I thought I would share my current favourite picks for a glowy, bronzed, looks-like-I’ve-been-on-holiday look. P.S Happy 500 posts to me 🙂

BASE

To start, I’ve been loving mixing in my Nars Sheer Glow foundation with the Nars Copacabana Illuminator . The foundation offers a long lasting satin base which offers a great build-able coverage. Teamed with the liquid highlighter, it adds a glowy effect to the base. I then as normal go in with concealer on any blemishes, I am currently using the NYX Concealer. I then use the Mac Prep and Prime highlighter in Light Boost to highlight under my eyes.  To finish, I then set my base with the Chanel Les Beiges powder to slightly mattify but still allow a a bit of shine to come through.

CHEEKS

To amp up the bronze-y glowy look, it’s all about the cheek products. Instead of my usual matte bronzer, I’ve been all over shimmery bronzers lately. I have been obsessed with the Soap and Glory Wonderbronze Shimmer Brick that I couldn’t wait to dig out again! This bronzer just adds a gorgeous sun-kissed look to the face. On top, the Tarte blush in Exposed acts well to compliment the bronzed look by adding a little more warmth and definition to the face. To achieve that overall glowy look, the Becca highlighter in Champagne Pop is the perfect addition. The formula is super buttery and smooth and the shade is just perfect.

EYES AND LIPS 

A very exciting new addition to my makeup collection and that has sparked my love for all the spring makeup lately is the Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette. Unfortunately this is a limited edition product and I believe no longer available so apologies for mentioning it but damn is it beautiful! The shade range is perfect and great for creating a light shimmery peach-y bronzed eye. After adding some mascara, I then move on to lips and I am loving a peach-y combination. I’ve loved mixing a bit of Charlotte Tilbury Sexy Sienna with Bitch Perfect for the perfect mix of coral-y peach and a light glossy nude.

What have you been loving for Spring?

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March Favourites

Hello everyone! Firstly, apologies for my absence recently! If you follow me on Instagram then you may be aware of my technical issues I’ve been having lately at home meaning I haven’t been able to blog! I’m still having issues with no working desktop and going through the pain of the terrible WordPress app and mobile website! Anyway I obviously have managed to post today however I can’t promise my usual schedule again yet! I will of course update you all later and apologies for being late in responding to comments etc! Anyway on today’s post, it is time for another monthly favourites as March is officially (nearly) over! I don’t have a load of favourites this month but I have a few products that I kept returning to over the last few weeks!

Starting with base/cheek products, I had been in a bit of a concealer rut recently! Whilst I mentioned the UD concealer in my favourites last month, I really can’t get away with the shade right now so I have to turn elsewhere. The Clarins Instant Concealer has been my go-to over the month, it is fresh and lightweight and whilst I prefer it for my under eyes opposed to blemishes as the coverage is quite light, it has done a not too bad job. Most importantly though, the colour actually matches my skin! Hoorah!

Another rediscovery this month has been the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat. I’ve also been in a bit of a blush rut recently, feeling rather uninspired by my blush options. Although I went back to this beauty and have been obsessed. The coral-y shade is perfect for this time of year when the sun is finally appearing. The formula is also beautiful and the blush just looks so uplifting and glowy on the cheeks.

My routine lately has been all about the lip products. I am truly obsessed with the dusky pink/rosy nude shades (you know the one!) at the moment which is pretty evident from my next favourites. The first is the Soap and Glory lipstick in the shade Perfect Day which is a gorgeous rosy brown colour. This shade is in their satin finish range so is super creamy yet pigmented and long lasting. I honestly think these lipsticks are so underrated as the quality is superb however sadly I believe this line is being discontinued since they have all been reduced. I believe I picked this shade up for a mere £4 so if you have stock near you, I highly recommend picking one up! Alongside this lipstick, I have loved pairing it with Mac Whirl lip liner. At first, I did think it was a little too brown for my liking but it happens to be a perfect match for the lipstick and of course the Mac formula is fab!

Lastly, I have grew a bit of an obsession with liquid lipsticks. I basically want them all! I picked up a couple from Gerard Cosmetics and I have been so impressed. The shade Cher appeared it would be too dark on me at first however I am loving it! The shade is a deep mauve colour that is super flattering. The formula isn’t the most comfortable but it isn’t terrible either and it also offers incredible longevity! I need more!!

What have you been loving lately?

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The Minimal Makeup Look

We all have those days were we want a fuss free makeup menu that will take a limited amount of time. I certainly have those days and since starting work this Summer I have nailed down a quick makeup routine that is easy and appropriate for a day at work. I am thinking those easy and convenient products but also ones that I can trust to create a good base. There are quite a few products in my stash that serve this purpose pretty well.

First up, when it comes to base I want something simple, lightweight but also creates radiant and flawless skin. Sounds like a lot but BareMinerals Complexion Rescue fits the bill. The light coverage base blends in like a dream and creates such gorgeous glowy fresh skin. Teamed with the Nars Creamy Concealer which gives the coverage it serves up a flawless base. Still sticking with the base, to warm things up a bit my new trusty Body Shop Honey Bronzer is a match made in heaven for my pale skin. For quick and easy application, the Rimmel Stay Blushed cheek tint works perfectly at adding a little flushed look to the cheeks. To keep on top of the glow the Topshop Glow Pot is the perfect product for adding a sheen to the tops of the cheekbones.

Moving on to eyes. there is nothing quite as easy and simple as a good eyeshadow stick. The By Terry Ombre Blackstars are as good as the hype suggests. The shade Misty Rock is simply beautiful and the formula is incredible gliding over the lids smoothly with a gorgeous finish. To finish the look, a quick swipe of the Benefit Bad Gal mascara for that natural fluttery style which is perfect for an everyday basis. For brows, the Soap and Glory Archery works wonders and is perfect for those minimal makeup days when you need something natural but still tidied up.  To finish the look, a simple sweep of the Clarins Lip Balm Perfector is a great choice, super moisturising and buttery smooth on the lips whilst still giving them a little colour.

What do you wear on Minimal Makeup days?

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5 Beauty Products Under £10

You may recall my 5 Beauty Products under £5 post? Well now its time for another, although this time with a slightly bigger budget at £10. The drugstore really have some gems and these particular products are favourites of mine and best of all they can be each be purchased with just one £10 note.

First up are the gorgeous Max Factor Creme Puff blushes. I have one in the shade Gorgeous Berries and gorgeous really does sum it up. These swirly baked blushes are said to be a dupe of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes which are stunning but expensive so these make a great alternative. Drugstore blushes are never really that appealing if I’m honest but Max Factor have really delivered with these blushes making them one of the best drugstore launches in a long time! Great quality, gorgeous and affordable!

Another great pick from Max Factor is their Excess Shimmer Eyeshadows. These are the perfect drugstore cream eyeshadow with a whipped like creamy texture and bold pigment. Similar to the Maybelline Colour Tattoos but with a much easier and creamier formula. I have two shades, Bronze and Copper which are two gorgeous shimmery shades. The name ‘excess shimmer’ may put people off but seriously there is nothing overly shimmery here, just the perfect amount of shimmer that can be worn on an everyday basis. A really beautiful formula worth picking up!

The Queen of Drugstore Eyebrow Products is of course Soap and Glory. They have a great selection of brow products that could easily rival Benefit and put other drugstore brands to shame. My favourite is of course the Archery pencil which is supposedly a dupe for the Anastasia Brow Wiz? This pencil comes with a pencil end (obviously) and a spoolie end. It is a super quick and easy product to use and creates a much fuller brow but still leaves your brows looking natural and soft.

I finally caved into buying one of the much hyped Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks a while back and I am forever lusting after more. As liquid lipsticks really have their moment, Bourjois stole the show with their affordable but quality version. I picked up the shade Hot Pepper, a bright red which has strong pigment and superb lasting power. These have a really nice formula too which glide on smoothly without any stickiness and dry down to a smooth matte finish. Now what shade to get next…

Lastly, I couldn’t do this post without mentioning one of my favourites. The Topshop Glow Pot Highlighter in Polished. Highlighters are one thing that the drugstore has been rather slow at delivering but Topshop have set the bar high and really have produced some glowy gems. This is my favourite from the collection, a creamy based pearly coloured highlighter that gives such a fresh radiant glow. Pressed along the cheekbones, this is just perfect and one you need in your collection.

Are you a fan of any of these products?

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July Favourites

It’s hard to believe I am writing another favourites post. July seemed to fly by and now its time to reflect on some of the beauty bits I have been loving over the month. There are a few summery inspired products, a killer eyeshadow palette and a couple of other essentials.

First up is the killer eyeshadow palette itself, the Zoeva Cocoa Blend palette. After a bit of online browsing (the usual) I came across this stunning palette from Zoeva. Now I was never really interested in Zoeva as a makeup brand, more really for their brushes but this palette really captured my heart. The shades are just so me! Chocolate-y browns, bronze-y shades and that gorgeous cranberry colour that pretty much made me buy it. I am not going to ramble on too much about it as I will be giving you all a full review very soon!

Next up, is a pretty summery nail polish from the Essie Summer 2015 collection. The shade Chillato was basically calling my name. Its a pale yellow/lime colour which just screams Summer. As you would expect from Essie, it has a fab formula and lasting power. Again I will show you this one in more detail a little later!

Of course I couldn’t have this favourites post without mentioning my two new amazing lipsticks from Charlotte Tilbury. I did my first CT purchase this month and picked up the two lipsticks; Lost Cherry and Sexy Sienna. I reviewed and swatched them both here. The formula of these is amazing, no other matte compares! They are super smooth and creamy to apply and the two colours are just beautiful! It won’t be long before I will be making another purchase!

I also rediscovered an old favourite this month in the form of Soap and Glory Archery. It’s a popular one and for good reason. I used this a lot this month (until it ran out! weep!) and I remembered how great it was. S&G Archery was the first real kind of eyebrow pencil I ever used and it really got me into filling in my brows. It creates such a natural but fuller brow. It really is fab and a great place to start when looking for a eyebrow pencil!

Last but not least was a real life saver this month, the L’Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil. Frizzy hair and humidity is a no go. I was braced with a tough challenge of bracing the Spanish heat and dealing with my thick frizzy hair. It was difficult to say the least but this oil made things that much easier. I literally had to slather my hair in oil every night (and I am talking a lot of oil here!) to get it to cooperate in the slightest. My hair is very dry so it needed a lot of nourishment and moisture and this oil made it more manageable and much silkier. I can’t quite imagine my holiday without it!

What were you loving this month?

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What’s in My Travel Makeup Bag?

So I mentioned briefly in my June Monthly Roundup that I am going away on holiday this month. So I thought I would share with you all some of the makeup pieces that have made the cut in my makeup bag. I am going with a streamlined approach, as I like to think anyway by only taking essentials and pretty much one of each beauty product except for lips (obviously, gal needs choices!). So here is what is in my travel makeup bag…

Starting with the makeup bag itself. It deserves its own mention alone because of course its from Charlotte Tilbury. I did a little CT splurge last month and since I never had a decent makeup bag and I was going away I thought I needed this beauty in my life. I love it but I will talk about it all in a little more detail another time…

Onto the makeup. Firstly, base. I have packed my trusty Laura Mercier foundation primer to help pro-long the wear of my makeup in the heat. Not as good as the Smashbox primer in my opinion but it’s still one of the best ones I’ve tried. I also picked up a new base in the form of the Topshop BB cream. I wanted something lightweight for Summer and so far so good with this one, the coverage is actually pretty decent! On top of that of course my favourite Nars Creamy concealer (review here) and the Maybelline Eraser Eye concealer for under the eyes which truthfully I am still a bit iffy about.

Then to give my complexion a bit of a boost. I have also added in my Rimmel Stay Blushed liquid blush in Sunkissed Cherry which is super lightweight but offers such a nice colour to the cheeks. For a little added warmth and glow the Soap and Glory Wonderbronze is a fab bronzer for the Summer months. Also, the Topshop Glow stick highlighter in Play Up makes an addition for an easy swipe of glow and radiance.

Then, in terms of eyes I’ve stuck with two reliable Benefit products. Firstly, the Rollerlash mascara (review here) which lengthens and curls the lashes super well and the Benefit Gimme Brow (review here) to give my eyebrows a little colour and definition. Of course I’ve also got the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze which is one of my favourites, great formula and perfect bronze-y gold colour.

Then I have all the choices when it comes to lips! As I am out and about for once I’ve added in some bright bold shades that deserve a little loving. I love the Nars Lip Pencils, super long lasting formula and super creamy and smooth to apply. I have Yu which I mentioned in my June Favourites, a bold fuschia pink and Iberico (LE) a stunning orange-y red that I am so excited to wear (swatches for both here). I’ve also got my two new Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks in Sexy Sienna and Lost Cherry, both perfect for Summer! Lastly, I also had to get one of the Clinique Lip Pop lipsticks and chose Melon Pop, a beautiful coral-y peach perfect for everyday wear and a little lower key than my other choices.

If you have succeeded to this line then well done, sorry for the uber long post!

What makeup will you be wearing this Summer?

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August Favourites

Can you believe its September already! I felt like summer only began and now its reaching the end, crazy! Anyway its time to recap on my favourite items of last month. August has been one crazy month but I did celebrate my birthday and go shopping (a lot!).

This month I finally got my hands on the Maybelline color tattoo eyeshadows which are fantastic. I got three shades but my favourite has to be On and On Bronze which is a neat shimmery bronze colour. I recently did a review on the three shadows which you can check out here. The shadow is highly pigmented and long lasting so if you haven’t already then I suggest you pick this up!

Another item I got in my recent haul was the Soap and Glory Supercat eyeliner. I am going to put my hands up and admit I am terrible with eyeliner. I have tried every medium of eyeliner available from pencil to liquid to gel and I have still not mastered the winged eyeliner. However I thought I would try Supercat which is a felt tip style eyeliner which I had not previously tried. This has to be the best eyeliner I have ever used, its so easy to apply and great for people like me who are hopeless with eyeliner. I can now say that I am getting a lot better with the winged eyeliner look 🙂

As I stated earlier I celebrated my birthday in August and I received this cute pastel necklace from a friend. I had been looking for a nice big jeweled necklace for a while now at a good price but I kept holding it off so it was nice to receive this as a gift and even better that pastels are here to stay for fall so I can continue to keep this beauty on!

And last but not least I also got this bag for my birthday. I had been looking for a new bag for a while (well to be honest I am always looking for new bags!) and my mum kindly bought me this cute colour block bag from New Look. Its a great size for all my essentials and comes with a handy adjustable shoulder strap.

 

 

Soap and Glory Archery: Review

 

 

My eyebrows are a mess. They really are. You might be one of those people who was naturally gifted with sleek brows or you might be like me with seriously untidy slugs on your face. I had seen so many positive reviews on Soap and Glory’s Archery eye brow tint and shaping pencil that I really couldn’t resist picking it up in my last shopping trip in a bid to neaten up my messy brows. Boots had a great buy one get one half price deal on S&G products meaning I picked up this at a neat £5 rather than its £10 price tag. The product has two sides, one the brow tint pen and the other a shaping crayon.

My not so lovely eyebrows (Before).

So to use this product you start with the pen tint side and brush on the tint over your eyebrow to fill in the colour.

My eyebrow after using the tint pen.

Then its time for the other side, the crayon to shape the eyebrow.

And Voila! (left eyebrow: archery look, right eyebrow: no product)

So if you are like me with incredibly messy brows I definitely recommend this product. As you can see while my eyebrows could do with a bit of plucking they look a lot better than before. The product is incredibly simple to use and apply and still allows your brows to look natural. Great product!