Thursday 31 July 2014

MY HOLY GRAIL MASCARA


Mascara is one of those make-up products that I haven't always gotten along with. Throughout my teenage years I pretty much dubbed it useless when used on my short straight Asian lashes. I didn't bother with it on a daily basis, and the only thing it added was time; the extra time it took to remove my make-up.

When I discovered the world of make-up and beauty videos on YouTube about 2 years ago, I started trying out mascaras again and, just the same as last time they didn't really do anything for me. But this time, I persevered. Throw in my discovery of the lash curler and things started to change. I think I tried the infamous "The Falsies" before this one, and even partially convinced myself that I liked it after rave reviews from every YouTuber I watched, but again it was pretty much a waste of time. I have a mix of Ingrid (missglamorazzi) and Megan (from Megan and Liz) for introducing me to this beauty.

Maybelline The Rocket Volume Express Waterproof Mascara.

This definitely comes under the "game changer" title. I dabble with other mascaras pretty frequently (and have even included some in previous monthly favourites) in the hope that something will challenge, but I have never found another mascara that holds a candle to this one; and that's including high end. The waterproof formula is a godsend. I was always in denial about the difference waterproof formulas make until fairly recently, but not anymore. Now I can say that the extra time it takes to remove is worth it.


This is the only mascara I have ever used that gives me so much control. It lengthens, separates, adds volume, never clumps and most importantly creates and holds a curl. The brush seems a little strange at first but the small spikes help to make sure every lash is coated.


For my lashes, this is the best in the business. I will be repurchasing and repurchasing. It's gotten to the point that I try out other mascaras and when they don't work I just layer them over this one to use them up. This epitomises the idea of holy grail for me. It's the best. Good thing it's only £7.99.

Do you have a favourite mascara? If so, what is it and why do you love it so much?

Maybelline The Rocket Volume Express Waterproof Mascara here, £7.99 




Wednesday 30 July 2014

A SIMPLIFIED TRAVEL SKINCARE ROUTINE


When it comes to travelling, it's pretty much inevitable that they'll have to be at least some downsizing in the way of skincare. On a recent weekend away, I narrowed things down from the more extensive routine I apply when in the comfort of my own bathroom. These easy to use products that don't require any extra bits such as cloths or cotton pads made my trip that much more enjoyable keeping my skin feeling clean and fresh. Oh and just a tip; going away is the perfect time to crack out that stash of samples, put them to good use, and save on some space.


As a make-up remover, I opted for The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil which removes even stubborn waterproof make-up and can just be done over the sink sans a cloth. You simply take some oil in your hands and then rub it straight onto your dry face and across the eyes and lips and rinse off with water. This stuff is a staple in my usual routine and makes removing make-up a breeze. I squirted a few pumps into this travel-size container which is also perfect to take on any flights. I picked mine up in a pack from Poundland and I'm sure you can pick them up easily online too.


Next up to cleanse the face, it's my holy grail Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser. This is especially good for travelling as you can purchase small travel size tubes easily on their website. Using this as an extra cleanse is an essential step for me. Even though 'cloth' is included in the name you can again just use water and your hands to remove the cream easily, especially when you're only using the product to remove make-up residue and cleanse.


Instead of the usual toner and cotton pad, I swapped this step out for the L'Occitane Divine Lotion which is nothing short of divine. Doing a similar job to the Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair, this product sinks effortlessly into the skin keeping it hydrated and feeling super luxurious. This is one of my all time favourite skincare products. I received this sample size in a beauty box back in March and have barely scratched the surface. A little goes a long way.


Finally, we come to the last two steps in this travel skincare routine. On a previous trip away, I forgot my eye cream and realised how essential of a step it really is. Eye creams are usually pretty small anyway, but I have chosen my sample of Benefit It's Potent which is even smaller. I've had a few samples of this particular cream and have always enjoyed it, but you can just use whatever you have.


For my face moisturiser I have used another container from the same £1 set and found it easier to just take one do-it-all cream which works for daytime and night-time instead of the usual two. The set does come with two of these tiny pots though so the option is there. My choice is the Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser, which can also be easily purchased in a small sample size and comes in two formluas; one for normal/combination skin and another for more dry/sensitive complexions. I used this moisturiser religiously for a few years so it's an old favourite. It's a great all rounder so perfect if you're just sticking to one cream.

So, that's my scaled down skincare routine which is perfect for travelling. There are still quite a few steps but skincare is important, even when you're on holiday!


Tuesday 29 July 2014

THE BEST TIME TO SUBSCRIBE TO GLOSSYBOX


Although I love the idea of a nice surprise each month when my Glossybox comes through the post, I can never quite stop myself checking their website every other day for spoilers (if I don't see it on Facebook or Twitter first). This time I'm going one step further and passing on the news.

If you were on the fence about trying Glossybox, the August box seems like the perfect time to get involved. Not only is there a guaranteed box worth of at least £33 when you only pay a tenner, but they're also including a bonus sixth product. You can purchase a monthly rolling subscription which can be cancelled at any time. But one might be all you need to get hooked.

If you want to see what I've received in previous boxes, then check out this YouTube playlist.

Sign up to Glossybox here, £10/month

TEEN WOLF LYDIA MAKE-UP TUTORIAL

I have been admiring Lydia's make-up for the past few episodes and thought I would try to re-create one of her make-up looks. Hopefully I did it justice!

Monday 28 July 2014

A PICNIC IN THE PARK WITH ANNA & LILY


If you've never heard of Viviannadoesmakeup and Lily Pebbles, then you're in the wrong place. These two are pretty much my biggest inspirations, especially when it's comes to beauty blogging. I absolutely adore both of their blogs and read them every day. I love the way they are so normal and approachable and their writing styles have influenced the way I've shaped my blog. Basically, I love them.

They had a meet up on Sunday, and I was able to go and spend a sunny Sunday afternoon with a picnic in the park. I was a bit nervous to fly solo but thought I'd regret it if I didn't. I had such a good afternoon, and ended up meeting so many lovely girls. Nattering on about make-up and YouTube for hours is definitely one of my favourite past-times so I was in my element. Lily and Anna were so so nice and chatted to everyone. A huge queue formed (as it often does in Britain) and they spent hours on their feet taking pictures with everyone there. Over the course of about 4 hours there must have been a few hundred people that came and went.


I, of course, had to get a cheeky selfie with their two boys who you may have seen in the "weekly vlogs" that they both post ... weekly and chatted to them both for quite a while just about boring things like uni and jobs (ha). Mark has the best selfie arm; this was taken with my hefty DSLR. What a man. I have to admit, I've become a bit of a fan of the both of them in recent weeks. They're pretty cool. And the way they vlog, you have to watch it. Just watch it. Entertainment all round.

Once the crowd had died down and only a few were left, we got a bit of quality time with Lily and Anna where they could just chill a little and we chatted a bit about running with Anna, and how the next meet up should just be a huge game of rounders with Lily. I would be so up for that. All in all, it was such a good day and definitely the most chilled out and awesome meet up I've ever been to (I have met my fair share of YouTubers/celebs in the past... maybe I'll share in a future post). One of my favourite things was that Anna and Lily's awesomeness definitely shows in their viewers. Everyone I spoke to and met were so friendly and welcoming.

Okay, gushing over. I'll just leave you with a couple more selfies. If you ever get the chance to meet these girls, do it. I promise you won't regret it. I definitely didn't. #babes


Saturday 26 July 2014

JULY 2014 FAVOURITES


I've always struggled to narrow my monthly favourites down, but it's a miracle because this month I've only got a few! It's a bit of a mixed bag this time around with less make-up (than usual) and more skincare. If you want to know what I've been loving this month, the video's waiting...

Friday 25 July 2014

GLOSSYBOX UK - JULY 2014


This month's Glossybox was "Stars and Stripes" themed and I'm in love with the box designed to imitate the American flag. The box was full of beauty goodies from across the pond; let's break it down.


  • BELLÁPIERRE Mineral Lipstick in Ruby | £20

I own a couple of Bellápierre mineral pigments (from previous boxes) which are gorgeous so I'm always happy to receive more items from the brand, and it's great to support natural products. I haven't purchased any on my own mostly due to the hefty price tag. This lipstick retails for £20 so even more than MAC and other high end brands; a tad expensive to purchase often but great in a £10 beauty subscription. This lipstick is a gorgeous red; I'm yet to test it out much but am happy to add it to the few red lipsticks I already own.

  • ABSOLUTE New York Perfecting Eyeshadow Primer | $4.99

After a little testing, this is my favourite product I've received this month. I've been contemplating trying out a different eyeshadow primer, after relying on my NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (which I love and would recommend) for so long, and this one surpassed all expectations. It seems that pretty much everything tends to crease on my lids far quicker than anyone else, so when this primer continued to perform after an initial success I was over the moon. I apply quite a bit over each eyelid and blend it out with my finger. I give it a bit of time to dry and then go in with whatever shadow I choose that day. I've been using this every day since I got it and I'm in love. It works just as well, if not better, than the NARS counterpart. The only problem is that I don't think it'll be particularly easy to repurchase in the UK as it is an American product. It's slightly baffling to me that Glossybox would include a product that can't be easily purchased/shipped to the UK in a UK box. They suggest nicka.com which doesn't seem to ship internationally. However, if you're in the US I would highly recommend picking this eyeshadow primer up at a bargain of $4.99!

  • CARMEX Lip Balm | £2.69

I wasn't particularly excited about this as I own a lot of lip balms and this is a pretty cheap one from the drugstore, but I've actually really been enjoying this. A few years back, I relied heavily on a cherry tube of Carmex as pretty much my only lip product and this little pot has reminded me why I loved it so much. The balm immediately moisturises the lips and, more importantly, leaves them feeling moisturised way after you apply the product. It induces a slightly tingly feeling which I am personally a fan of. I've been reaching for this over my other lip balms and Chapsticks every day, even before I go to bed.

  • COLOR CLUB Glossy Seal Nail Polish | $8

I haven't tried this product out yet, but the sample size of 15ml is amazing. This is a big polish. The colour stands out next to my more conservative nudes, but it is a gorgeous shade. It might work well on the toes or maybe I'll get adventurous one day and try it on the fingers. I've tried one other polish from this brand before and remember liking the formula, and I love that this colour was formulated exclusively for Glossybox; it's always nice to feel special!

  • TARTE lights, camera, lashes Mascara | £19.50 for 7ml

My first tarte product! I was pretty excited to see this when I opened the box. I've obviously heard tons and tons about the tarte brand so I was excited to finally get my hands on something from the range. This was the only sample size amongst the products, and honestly sample size mascaras tend to last almost as long as a full size. I've tried this mascara out a few times and it's pretty good although I think I'd prefer the waterproof version as I'm fairly picky with mascaras and this struggles to hold my curl. The mascara does give lots of volume and there's no clumping in sight; I've seen nothing but raves from other YouTubers/bloggers so definitely give it a go if you get the chance. Now, I need to get my hands on the blushers and foundations!


If you want full size make-up products then Glossybox is the way to go! They promised us 3 or 4 full size items in this month's box and did not disappoint. Four full size items; could you ask for more? I hardly ever find myself disappointed with a Glossybox and you definitely get more for your money with this subscription.

Approximate box worth - £40 (wow!)

Sign up to Glossybox here, £10/month

Wednesday 23 July 2014

BIRCHBOX UK - JULY 2014

Every month I post a video on my YouTube channel comparing my UK Birchbox and Glossybox (like this) but I've always been torn between giving each box its own video or keeping it all bundled up in one. Now that I've started blogging, I thought that writing one blog post for each box, as well as a monthly video, would be a perfect compromise. This way I can go into a bit more detail on each box and include swatches and extra thoughts. Since I've had both of my boxes for a week or so now, I'll include some updates on how I've been getting on with the products I've used so far.

My July Birchbox is up first with a summer theme of Sun, Sea & Sand.


  • WELEDA Millet Nourishing Shampoo | £8.95 for 190ml

The first product was a 18ml sample size of shampoo, so the sample is worth less than £1. I've already used up this sample barely getting two uses out of it. I didn't find the scent particularly pleasant (it smells a little citrus-y) and was honestly happy just to use up the sample and get rid of it. I won't be purchasing the full size; the product was okay but the smell has put me off.


  • BALANCE ME Wonder Eye Cream | £20 for 15ml


I was pretty pleased to receive an eye cream as I haven't tried out that many and am almost out of the one I'm currently using. This 7ml sample should last a while and is worth close to £10 in relation to the full size. I could see myself repurchasing this, but need to try it out for a bit longer to really decide. So far, so good.

  • LAQA & CO. Sheer Lip Lube Pencil in Menatour | £14 for 3.7g

Another sample size, but this is a cute little lip crayon. The colour is a gorgeous purple and I have high hopes for this one. It's a great bright summer colour which perfectly aligns with the box theme. The pencil has a minty smell which isn't too overpowering even for someone who doesn't usually like minty lip products. I should get quite a bit of use out of this so I'm pleased. It's not particularly sheer contrary to its name but gives a glossy wash of colour easily applied onto the lips.

  • GILCHRIST & SOAMES English Spa Sea Kelp Extract Mineral Bath | £11.25 for 236ml

This decent 40ml tube of gel to be added to bath water is the only product from this box that I'm yet to try. As an occasional bath taker that may not change for a while, but it smells nice and fresh and I've been a fan of this brand's products I've tried in the past.

  • WHISH Three Whishes Lavender Body Butter | £14.50 for 150ml

This last product completes a full set of samples. It's a bit disappointing not to receive any full size items but this particular product doesn't disappoint. I'm not usually a fan of lavender scents but the product description sums this one up perfectly - 'Not your granny's lavender'. This body butter seems to harness the perfect amount of lavender and the consistency is perfect for smoothing all over the body. It sinks into the skin quickly and doesn't feel greasy - I just wish there was more of it! I doubt this sample is going to last too long.

  • VITA COCO Natural Coconut Water in Lemonade | £2.29 for 330ml

The only full size product is the lifestyle extra which I am saving to make a smoothie one of these days. Every single vlogger I watch seems to make and love healthy morning smoothies so my plan is to make one of my own in the near future. I'll keep you updated if it turns out any good. These little extras are always nice.


Overall, it's not the best Birchbox I've ever received but I will use every product so it's not a complete miss. The body butter has definitely been a bit of a surprise love since I have so many similar samples which are mostly half used. The others need a bit more testing but I'll keep you updated. I'm a little disappointed with the box's worth this month, but hopefully next month will be better!

Box worth - £22.17

Sign up for Birchbox here, £10/month




Monday 21 July 2014

A BUDGET NIGHT-TIME LUXURY

I'm a bit strange when it comes to skincare as I actually really enjoy the process of taking my make-up off almost as much as putting it on. I definitely love how it feels. Using certain products can make your night-time skincare routine feel luxurious, and calming. A consistent cleansing, toning and moisturising of the face before bed makes a huge difference; at least it has for me.


Once the basic habit is formed you can experiment and find products to add and switch up in your routine. The Body Shop Vitamin E Serum-In-Oil is a recent purchase of mine, and is also one that I didn't love straight away. But after a few uses, it has become a lovely final step before my head hits the pillow.


I don't use it every night but about 3 times a week I take the fun little pippet (I really love those things; see this post for more pippet fun) and squeeze a few drops into my hand. I find the best way to apply the product, is to rub it between my hands to warm the oil and then press into my skin.

This is a perfect alternative to some much more pricey skincare products and comes in at just £12 from The Body Shop. Just a tip; The Body Shop always has sales and offers so sign up to their newsletter to stay on top of that and get even more money off. Also, check in store as they often bundle products together at a discount too (I talked about it a bit more in this haul).

Do you use any cheaper skincare products which you love? Leave them below!

The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil here, £12

Friday 18 July 2014

FREE GIFT FIND: No7 BB LIPS

If you're anything like me, then when it comes to beauty (or food in Tesco for that matter), then you're a sucker for special offers. We're talking Clinique bonus time, "3 for 2"s in Boots, even beauty box subscriptions. In this case it was a free gift when purchasing 2 items from the Boots brand, No7. (If you want to see the other items that came in the free gift, I hauled them here.) I always use the free gifts as a perfect opportunity to purchase things from a brand I've been eye-ing up for a while and then I get to go home with a bag full of extra goodies to try too. Win-win.

Apart from the fact that it's a free gift, I love the prospect of trying out products which are usually things I never would have thought to pick up on my own. It's even better when you find a gem. This lip balm is one in a long line of loves found in a free gift.


The No7 "BB Lips Beauty Balm" claims to be an all-in-one lip balm with three benefits of beautiful colour, soothing nourishment and UV protection. So far, it's lived up to those claims.


Firstly, the shade is right up my alley. Blink Pink is a light natural looking pink that is slightly reminiscent of MAC Creme Cup. Beautiful colour - check. I'm in love with the opaque and creamy formula which feels comfortable on the lips. Soothing nourishment - yeah, I'm happy with that. Check. I'm just going to have to trust them on the UV protection. So that gets a check too. Also, the sample size is perfect for any handbag and I'm already tempted to check out some more shades. Although, I might wait for another free gift. And the cycle continues...

No7 BB Lips Beauty Balm here, £9

Thursday 17 July 2014

A NON-BEAUTY GUILTY PLEASURE

I go through TV shows like nobody's business. The list of recommended shows (which I keep on possibly my favourite app, SeriesGuide) is getting longer than I can keep track of (good thing I have the app then). And this past week, I've finally gotten round to watching one that's been on there for a long time. I'm so glad I did. Get ready; I'm about to gush.

What prompted me to finally watch the show was an advert on Comedy Central during those Friends re-runs I will never get sick of. The repeated advert for The Office US drew me in, and here I type 4 seasons later (I won't tell you when I started, but trust me I got through it fast) and loving it.

The show isn't really what I expected. Every single character is hilarious. In that way, it kind of reminds me of Scrubs as the supporting cast is just as important and humourous as the main cast. I find myself laughing at loud at least once during every episode, and I'm a sucker for quirky characters (Sidenote: if you're looking for quirkiness, my all time fave would be Gilmore Girls but we'll save that for another day).

I've found another OTP. Jim and Pam. Oh, Jim and Pam. From what I've watched so far, they've portrayed this relationship perfectly always leaving the watcher wanting more; never quite giving them enough. But we all know, the chase is the best and most exciting part. You find yourself wanting two characters to get together, and when they eventually do it all becomes a bit mundane and boring (sigh, New Girl). The Office writers have nailed it. The romance is one that you root for, without being the sole focal point or storyline of the show. I find myself positively grinning whenever these two interact. I think I need to stop... but I love love love them. Jim('s face) is the cutest thing on the earth. Okay? Okay.

I thought I'd give just a little insight into some other things I'm passionate about - TV shows. Yep, real depth being put on show here. Let me know if you've watched The Office, and what you think! But no spoilers, please. Unless you're commenting a week from now, in which case I'll probably be done.

Okay, I'm getting back to Netflix now. Leave some TV show recs below; my app isn't quite at capacity yet.

Wednesday 16 July 2014

GAME CHANGER: A LIGHT-SPEED MANICURE BY BOURJOIS


When you try a lot of different beauty products many go unused and forgotten, but there are some which immediately become indispensable in your routine. I call these game changers. I have been religiously using two Bourjois nail products for the last few months which attained this status right from the first use. They both provided something I didn't know I was missing until I had it.

Let me introduce the first one in a story. For my graduation ball, I spent far too long working on my eye make-up that I left next to no time to do my nails #firstworldproblems, eh? Pictures were being snapped, and I umm-ed and ahh-ed over even possibly leaving my nails bare, but I remembered that I had picked up the highly recommended Bourjois Instant Dry Nail Drops earlier so thought I would put them to the ultimate test. I messily applied a couple coats of my thankfully nude nail polish completely skipping the top coat step, quickly squeezed a couple drops (possibly excessive in hindsight) and ran out the door.

The polish set almost immediately. I wouldn't recommend leaving it so last minute, as I was left with a few small marks and smudges but only when looked at closely. The polish held up, and dried so super quickly that every nail painting session is now consistently concluded with a small drop squeezed from the easy-to-use (and kind of fun) Bourjois pippet. From further use, I've realised that one drop per nail should suffice.


After the grad ball success, I've been using this every time I paint my nails after my top coat. The formula dries the polish so quickly, that the days of blowing my nails for half an hour and running them under cold water (I'm still not sure that actually helps) are gone. This really is a life-changing product. I'm sure there are others like this out there which I haven't tried, but this one is simple to use, and so effective that I'm sold. Oh, and it's only £5.99.

This is a must-have product for any nail painter; enthusiast or part-timer.

The second product comes in for under a fiver and is one that I used, most recently, just last night. The Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover is probably the reason I have been so much more consistent in painting my nails over the last 4 or 5 months. I have become so accustomed to its use that while watching TV last night, I absent-mindedly removed my nail polish to prep for a fresh coat. The pot of practically nail gold removes the polish in seconds. You dip your finger into the sponge, give it a little wiggle and it dissolves all polish on the nail. There's no messy bottle of remover you might tip over (at least if you knock this over you have a bit of extra time before it starts spilling) and no dreaded cotton wool. Unfortunately, the nail polish remover smell is not lost, but once the lid is shut your nails are left with a sweet red fruit and vanilla scent. It also has benefits for your nails - bonus.


There's a new addition to the line which includes an extra handy pull-out sponge for your feet which I've yet to try but it's next on the list. You can get it on ASOS for £5.99.

This dynamic duo from Bourjois is exactly what this post said at the start - a game changer. Both are so affordable and long-lasting (neither of mine have run out yet!). There's really no reason that you don't own them already. Get down to your local drugstore... now! I promise you won't regret it.

Bourjois Instant Dry Nail Drops here, £5.99
Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover here, £4.99
Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover - Hands & Feet here, £5.99

Tuesday 15 July 2014

BEAUTY BOX SHOWDOWN

It's my favourite time of the month - subscription box time! I compare my UK Birchbox and Glossybox each month over on my YouTube channel and this month was an awesome one. There are some beauties. I absolutely love receiving my £10/month boxes in the mail each month. It's like Christmas... every month. Who doesn't love a box full of beauty surprises? If you want to see what I got this month, then click play.


Sign up to Birchbox here, £10/month
Sign up to Glossybox here, £10/month

Monday 14 July 2014

A BUDGET ESSIE FIND


I've been coveting Essie Splash of Grenadine for a while now, but parting with £8 for a single nail polish isn't something I like to do often. So, when I came across a set of 4 Essie minis with a similar looking shade included, for £6.99 in TK Maxx, I jumped at the chance. The shade which drew me in was My Better Half, which resembled Splash of Grenadine as far as I could remember from my frequent staring contests with the £8 bottle in Boots. After looking up swatches, they do seem to resemble each other so I've grabbed a bargain and still have three other shades to try out!

The set was Essie's 2013 Wedding Collection and you can purchase the shades separately on the Nordstrom website if you're in the US. I've yet to try the other colours, but I think I'll get use of them all and the minis are the perfect size to give me a small chance of actually finishing a bottle.



Here's to the Essie nail polish formula at a budget price. See if you can find this set at your local TK Maxx or other nail bargains!

Essie Wedding Collection 2013 here, $8,50 each

Saturday 12 July 2014

EMPTIES / MOVING CLEAR OUT VIDEO

My newest video has gone live, and it's an empties video with mini reviews on a ton of products I've used up in the last month or so, and also includes some things I threw away during a moving clear out. Enjoy!

AN IMPROMPTU MILESTONE CELEBRATION

I just hit 100 subscribers on my YouTube channel! I'm feeling pretty excited right now, and I didn't think I would be. It's genuinely so exciting to see my itsy bitsy channel grow, and I have felt so welcomed into the beauty community on YouTube which I was a little afraid of at first. It's been so much fun creating content and seeing myself improve each time I make a video. I'm really enjoying it so far, and thought I would post a quick post just so I can remember this when I look back. I'm super excited to venture a bit more now, as well, into the blog-o-sphere.

I didn't anticipate how much I would enjoy writing; something I have never considered myself to be particularly good at. But as soon as I started writing that first post (albeit only a few days ago), I wished I'd started earlier. I think I'm going to be doing this for a while.

If you subscribe to my channel, thank you. If you don't, feel free to check it out. ;)

On to the next hundred! :D

Friday 11 July 2014

FOTD: A NATURAL LOOK USING FAR TOO MANY PRODUCTS

I can admit that I'm often guilty of going overboard on my make-up when occasion doesn't call for it. A quick week day lunchtime catch-up with a friend probably doesn't lend to a dark smokey eye but sometimes I can get a tad carried away.

Today I found myself on the other end of the scale, with a very natural look. And when I say natural, I really mean it. But I stayed true to myself, and the list of products used is just as long as usual. This is a look I don't wear often, but probably should. I've kept the eyes very simple leaving the lower lashline completely bare (previously unheard of in my case!) and went for a slight flush in the cheeks and a berry-toned lip.


I started off with my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 53 Light Beige blended out with my beautyblender. This is really the only base I've been consistently grabbing for over a month now. It's a nice light-medium coverage and leaves a dewy finish on the skin; so it's perfect for summer. There was a slight peak in the product count due to the number of concealers used. I had a pesky blemish that just wouldn't play nice so I ended up layering my Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 3 Warm Medium and my Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach. I got there in the end. I used my ever faithful MAC Prolongwear Concealer in NC20 under the eyes and a touch down the centre of the face for a slight highlighting effect. I set everything with a light dusting of my Maybelline Fit Me Powder in 120 Classic Ivory which is one step I maybe could have skipped. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 03 Medium Matte and my Natural Collection Blush in Peach Melba were my choices to bring some colour back to the face.



For the eyes it really was simple. I primed with my NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (skip if your eyes don't crease everything that touches them after 10 seconds), and then just dusted a bit of the Maybelline powder over the top to even things out and give more of a polished look. One layer of L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Extra Black on the top lashes and the eyes are done!

I almost forgot my brows (it happens quite a lot) but ended up just putting a touch of powder from my Whitening Lightning Brow Bar to Go through them and was happy.

Finally, for the lips, I dabbed on a fairly new purchase of MAC Syrup.

What products have you been using recently to create your every day natural make-up look? Leave them below...

Thursday 10 July 2014

AN EPIC SPONGE-OFF


Okay, you got me. It might not be that epic but I just posted a new video comparing the original beautyblender with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. This was my first time using a beautyblender but I am very familiar with the Real Techniques offering. There's a huge price difference, so watch here to see my thoughts, including a demo, and my recommendation!

Wednesday 9 July 2014

A WARM-TONED SMOKEY EYE LOOK

Okay, it's first post time. Let's do this!

I've always been a sucker for a good smokey eye (who isn't?) and have watched countless YouTube tutorials on all kinds of said eye look and I think I've spotted a pretty strong favourite amongst the beauty gurus. Everyone loves the "warm tones". Those gorgeous reddy-browns which always look beautiful, that is until I try them on myself. I'm not sure if it's down to my skin tone, my undertones, eye shape... the list could go on but I have never been able to get it to work for me. Until today.

I can't take all the credit as I was totally inspired by Allison from the YouTube channel amarixe (you know the one), and her gorgeous eye look she's been rocking for the past couple of videos. So, I was browsing the make-up section in Poundland of ALL places because wherever there's a make-up section in any shop, that's where you'll find me. I came across a few seemingly "reject" Rimmel products reduced down to a quid which seemed to be due to the quirky colours. We're talking khaki-coloured nail polishes, a purple Scandaleyes liner (which would have been a total bargain if I didn't already own one which I paid full price for - gutted) and then the gem which inspired this post.

The Scandaleyes eyeshadow paint in 005 Golden Bronze. For £1.
Swatch: MAC Antiqued

Naturally, I had to have it. I'm a huge fan of the formula which has insane lasting power. I already own another in Rich Russet which is much loved, and a perfect liquid alternative to Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in On-and-On-Bronze

So, let's get down to it. The warm smokey eye which I love.

Firstly, I just threw the eyeshadow paint all over the lid. The formula is pretty easy to work; it comes out very wet giving you time to blend using your finger (I found this easiest) or a brush and then it sets a few seconds later and doesn't move all day. The finish is gorgeous; metallic, crazy pigmented and super shiny. I'm not usually a fan of golds on me but I love this one. Next up, I popped a much neglected MAC Antiqued (any reddy-brown will work) in the outer corner and crease and this is what I came up with. Completed with winged liner on the lid and a nice brown liner in the waterline and I'm loving it. I think this might become a fave look of mine to create and one I'll definitely be posting up on my YouTube channel soon. I can finally join the warm smokey eye club!


Rimmel eyeshadow paint in Gold Bronze here, £4.99 (or check your local Poundland)
MAC Antiqued, £10 here