Friday 15 April 2016

THE Best Nude Lipstick For Pale Skin?

Hey guys :)

This post is purely dedicated to one lipstick- Rimmel lipstick in the shade 45. This is part of the Kate Moss nude lipstick collection that came out a few months ago, but I was yet to try one until recently. I own a couple of Rimmel lipsticks and like the formula of them so thought I would give one of these a go.I'm not normally one for nude lipsticks because I have pale skin and the nude lipsticks I have tried make me look like i have 'foundation lips', or dead. Not so cute. 
I picked this up in the feelunique sale so it only ended up being £3.85. I wasn't expecting much and hadn't seen any lip swatches before i purchased it so it was a bit of a plunge. However I'm SO glad i picked this up! It really is the perfect nude for my pale skin tone/hair colour (dark blonde). I'd describe it as a mauvey nude colour. The formula is super creamy and has a satin texture, so lasts for aages on the lips (it's up there with MAC satin lipsticks!).
I'd say this shade would work well for other skin tones, but there are other shades in the nude collection so I would definitely urge you to go out and try one as I can't fault it! 

This is a swatch of the lipstick next to Charlotte Tilbury's lip cheat in pillow talk, which is a 'my lips but better shade'. I love wearing these two together as it gives the perfect nude lip.
 
Thanks for reading xo 

Sunday 3 April 2016

March Favourites- Morphe, Nuxe, Too Faced, Dior, Vichy

Hey guys :)

So it's that time of the month again for favourites.. where is the time going!?
 
Starting off with something that I've done a previous post about.. Morphe M439 Brush. I purchased this in the last few weeks and i've been using it for my foundation ever since. It's the perfect foundation brush- dense so you can pack on coverage, but soft so you can buff the product in to give a flawless complexion- ticks all the right boxes!





Secondly is something that I've had for a while, but since I've been skiing, it has become a firm favourite- Nuxe Reve De Miel. This lip balm is a miracle worker on dry chapped lips, which is something I suffer from whilst being out in the sun. I applied it every night whilst I was away, and my lips were super soft when i woke up in the morning. I don't use it every night whilst I'm at home as I don't want to waste it, but this is definitely worth the money.




The Too Faced Lipstick in Naked Dolly is something that I got in a set from Sephora last year when I visited Paris, but had never really used much. It is a creamy nude, but I found it to look too much like 'foundation lips' on me. However, recently I rediscovered this lipstick after a reorganise and have been using it pretty much every time I wear lipstick. I apply it in the centre of my lips and it gives a 'pouty' look, and lightens up darker lipsticks. 




This Dior Eyeshadow Palette I recieved as a free gift when I bought some perfume last year, and I've loved using it for travel as it's small and compact, but includes a nice array of colours. The pigmentation is amazing and it lasts for a really long time on the eyes.







Finally, finishing off with my favourite product that I discovered this month- Vichy Ideal Soleil Mattifying Face Fluid- SPF50. I actually bought this a few months ago, but only got to use it in the past week when I was skiing. I was intrigued to try it because I HATE that feeling of putting suncream on my face and it leaving a greasy residue, as I already suffer from oily skin. This product surpassed all my expectations. On application, it glides on and isn't too thick, however it does dry quite fast so I had to put it on in sections. It doesn't leave any colour or residue. It kept my face matte ALL DAY, which is something that never happens, even with a matte foundation or moisturiser on. It is quite expensive for a suncream, but it is 100% worth the money for anyone with oily skin, or looking for a suncream that doesn't leave a greasy residue.

Thanks for reading!
xo

 







Thursday 24 March 2016

Skiing Skincare Essentials

Hey guys!

Considering I have a skiing trip coming up this weekend, I thought I'd write a post about what I pack in my toiletries bag. I always struggle knowing what to take with me, so hopefully it might be useful for someone else wondering what skincare items to take :)

For cleansing, I'm taking Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish for the mornings as this makes my skin super soft and smells amazing. For the evening I'm taking Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm- I've really been loving this balm lately, it's great for taking your makeup off and it leaves your skin feeling really nourished which is great for skiing as being in the mountains can really dry your skin out. Also for removing any makeup I'm taking my trusty Bioderma

For eye cream I'm taking The Emu Oil Well Eye Cream as this is super moisturising and I often find that my eyes get really dry when skiing.

As a toner, I'm taking Clarins Toning Lotion for Oily Skin- I find this really softens my skin. Although I have been using Pixi Glow Tonic previously, because of the acid it has in it, it's recommended not to use it when being exposed to the sun so i've had to stop using that for the time being.

For moisturiser I'm taking two- the La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat for the daytime, and Vichy Noraderm Nuit for the night. It seems only fitting to take French skincare products when travelling to France right? I'm also taking the Pixi Rose Oil Blend oil to put on at night as my skin often gets dry and dehydrated, especially after the flight, so this will hopefully put some of that essential moisture back in!

I don't often take face masks away with me, however i recently got the Balance Me Radiance Face Mask as a sample to try, and I've really been liking it. It's not like a normal mask- it feels more like smearing an exfoliator onto your skin, however it does leave a nice glow to the skin and I think it would work well when my skin is looking dull and dehydrated.

In terms of SPF, I'm taking the Vichy SPF50 Ideal Soleil Mattifying Face sun cream- I'm yet to try this yet but if it lives up to its claims and protects me from the sun whilst keeping my face matte then I'm onto a winner! Also, I'm taking the Piz Buin SPF30 Lip Balm as there's nothing worse than dry chapped lips.

Thanks for reading :)

High-End Concealers- Nars, Urban Decay, MAC

Hello :)

I've become a massive fan of concealer over this past year and have built up a nice little collection to suit every concealing-need for my skin. These are the high-end concealers that I own:

Nars Radiance Creamy Concealer- Vanilla
This is probably my all time favourite concealer. It has a great high coverage, but without looking cakey. It works well both as an under-eye concealer, as well as covering up redness and blemishes. I really like the applicator as it makes it super quick, and is also great for topping up on the go when required. It is quite expensive at £22, especially considering the amount you get compared with other concealers, however it is definitely worth a try. 

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Concealer- Fair/Neutral
This is a more recent acquisition after finally giving in to the hype. I really like using this concealer under my eyes and for highlighting when I'm paler (as the shade is a lot lighter than expected). A little goes a long way- I wouldn't say it was full coverage, but it spreads really easily either using a brush or a beautyblender.

Mac Prep & Prime Highlighter- Light Boost
Although this isn't classed as a concealer, I think it works well under the eyes when you want something that brightens with a light coverage. I use it both on its own and on top of a concealer to give a brighter effect. 

Mac Prolongwear Concealer- NC15
This is a really nice concealer that was one of the first I bought but still love now. It's a medium-full coverage, works well both under the eyes and on blemishes/redness. It's quite thick, however does blend out well. My only problem is the pump, it's so annoying! But that's something I'm willing to get over because it is a really good concealer and definitely a repurchase.

Thanks for reading! xo

Saturday 12 March 2016

High-End Favourites- MAC, Estee Lauder, Benefit, Charlotte Tilbury

Hey!
In addition to my drugstore favourites post, it seemed fitting to follow it with my high-end favourites.

Starting off with foundation, it is no other than the cult Estee Lauder Double Wear. I have been using this foundation for over a year now and I couldn't be without it. It has the perfect coverage- medium but buildable, and it lasts the longest amount of time on my skin without having to powder (around 5 hours). I definitely recommend this to anyone with oily skin looking for a long-lasting foundation.

I have tried so many concealers, but i keep coming back to the Mac Prolongwear. It is a medium-high coverage and lasts all day without creasing (if set with a powder). It doesn't feel cakey on the skin which I have found with others. The only thing I don't like about this concealer is the pump- it's so hard to push down so either nothing comes out or a big blob comes out at once. I don't know if I have a faulty pump or if they are all like this but it's so frustrating!

For powder, another favourite from MAC is the mineralize skinfinish. I have mine in the shade light plus and it's the perfect shade for my pale complexion. It's really finely milled and is a great setting powder for both under my eyes and over my foundation. It's annoyingly expensive considering how long it lasts, but it's definitely worth the money.

I own quite a few high-end blushes which I like, but if I had to choose my favourite it would be the Clinique Blush Pop in Peach Pop. It is quite sheer, but I think it provides the perfect amount of pigment to give a lovely pop of colour. It's not a shimmery or matte blush- it has a subtle sheen and leaves you with a gorgeous healthy glow.

A recent purchase I made was Benefit Hoola bronzer, but it has definitely made it into my high-end favourites. It's the perfect colour to act as both a bronzer and a contour shade- so perfect for travelling. It's also the perfect shade for my pale (and fake tanned) skin.

My favourite highlight HAS to be the RMS Living Luminizer. I found this on Beautybay when it was half price and I had seen Estee Lalonde talking about it in a video aages ago and I really wanted to try it. It is literally healthy skin in a pot. It provides the best glow the the skin- no glitter or sparkles, just dew. It works great on my oily skin and doesn't affect any of the foundation/powders applied underneath.

For eyebrows it is none other than the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow. Although mine has dried out a bit (I've had it for nearly a year now), it's still going strong! I have really sparse brows and this is the perfect product to fill them in, and also create a strong brow. I also own the Brow Definer which I do like for a quicker application, but the Dipbrow just has the edge.

I have an unnecessary amount of lipsticks in my collection, but MAC has to top them all. The consistency and lasting power of these lipsticks is amazing. And the colour selection is insane! My all time favourite is Faux- it was my first ever MAC purchase and still remains top of my list. It lasts for around 5 hours, even after eating and drinking, and it super creamy so doesn't dry your lips out.

Finally, one of my favourite purchases is the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk. This lipliner is a miracle. I don't have as bigger lips as i'd like, and this is the perfect way to fake them. It's so similar to my natural lip colour it doesn't look noticable that I have lipliner on, more like I have the perfect shaped lips. It's also great to apply underneath lipsticks as it makes them last so much longer.

Bit of a long one today- but thanks for reading! xo


 

Morphe M439- Best foundation brush?

Just a short post today, but I had to share my love for this beauty!

 
Up until recently, I have been obsessed with my Sigma F40 for applying my foundation. However, after watching one of InTheFrow's vlogs, I saw her raving about the Morphe M439 Deluxe Buffer Brush. I had never really been into buffer brushes because I have blemish-prone skin with enlarged pores and thought that the denser Sigma F40 brush applied my foundation best. I've had that brush for over a year now and thought it was time to try something new- and I'm so glad I did!

This brush is dense like the F40, but it's rounded and superrr soft. I tried it with a few other foundations first (Bourjois Healthy Mix and Loreal Infallible) because I wasn't so sure that it would work with the heavier foundation, double wear. I tried it on the off chance that it could work, and it definitely does! My skin looked so flawless and it made my pores completely disappear- something that I thought only the La Roche Posay BB Blur Cream could do!

This is most definitely my new holy grail makeup brush.
I bought mine from here for £11.50.

Thanks for reading xo

Thursday 10 March 2016

Drugstore Favourites- Maybelline, Rimmel, Bourjois, Real Techniques

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Hey guys!

This week I thought I'd write a post about my favourite drugstore products (Boots and Superdrug if you live in the UK). As much as I love my high-end makeup, there are some absolute gems at the drugstore which are as good, if not better as their high-end alternatives!

Starting off with mascara. I bought the Maybelline Lash Sensational last year, and at first I wasn't so keen. I found it to smudge quite a lot so I'd often end up with panda eyes. However I persevered and I'm so glad I did. The more it dries out, the better it becomes! It gives both volume and length which i find really hard to get in a mascara. It's also super easy to remove (unlike the Loreal Telescopic which I LOVE but it's such a beast to remove).

Next is foundation. I own quite a lot of drugstore foundations, however this is definitely my favourite. I was quite skeptical at first because I have oily skin and I had read that this was better for drier skins. Saying that, I have found that it lasts a good 3-4 hours without having to powder! It gives such a gorgeous glow to the skin, so I tend to prefer wearing this in the summer. It also smells super fruity which is a bonus! I'd recommend this for both dry and oily skins as it's the best of both worlds!

My favourite powder of all time has to be the Gosh Prime 'n' Set. I discovered this through Missbudgetbeauty and I'm SO glad i bought it. It's the best oil control product I have ever tried. I don't use it every day, only on the days when I want my makeup to last, but it does such a great job. I've been using it for a while now and still have loads left, definitely worth the mere £9.99 that it costs. For all you oily skin gals out there, I couldn't recommend this powder enough!

In terms of highlight, I used to be obsessed with the Makeup Revolution radiant lights powder, up until Freedom came along. It's a super cheap makeup brand that is stocked at Superdrug. Again, another recommendation from Missbudgetbeauty. This is perfect for anyone looking for a subtle highlight, or wanting that 'healthy glow'. It's so finely milled so isn't glittery, just gives the perfect sheen. It's also super cheap at only £3!

The Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm was one of my first proper lipstick purchases back when I started getting into makeup. I bought it in the shade 'sultry' which is a deep mauvey berry colour, perfect for autumn and winter. It's super creamy upon application and because it's matte it lasts around 4 hours without having to top up. I have it in the shade 'elusive' too which is another favourite, reminds me of MAC 'please me', but at a fraction of the price.

Moving on to primer- this is a fairly recent discovery, but I've been using it for a few months now and I can definitely say I can notice a difference in terms of how long my makeup lasts and the oil control. With it being Soap and Glory it is on the higher end of the drugstore, but still affordable. It's not a silicone texture which I love because I find my makeup slides off with those kind of primers, but I find it to be quite moisturizing (without being greasy).

I first purchased one of the Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadows about 2 years ago, in the shade 'rose gold'. I wasn't completely sold on it though, it was a nice colour but i found it creased on my eyes after a few hours. Fairly recently they came out with matte versions, which i absolutely LOVE. I have them in the shades creme de rose and creme de nude. They are so creamy when you apply them and act as a great eyeshadow base or even on their own. I've never tried the MAC paintpots but have heard that they are great dupe of those.

I bought this bronzer on a whim last year as I saw it super cheap on Amazon (I think it was 2.99). It has since been my holy grail bronzer and all I ever used (up until the addition of Benefit Hoola). It's a great colour for my pale skin- not too warm or cool toned. It's applies really nicely and doesn't go patchy at all.

For lipliner there is one clear winner- Rimmel Exaggerate in Eastend Snob. I own them in a few different colours, but this is my favourite. It's the perfect 'my lips but better' (so cliche, i know), and lasts around 3 hours on the lips without having to top up. I always recommend this to people and got my family hooked on it. It's also a great dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk.

And finally, makeup brushes. I couldn't do a drugstore favourites without mentioning Real Techniques. They are some of the best brushes I own, and super affordable. It's so hard to pick a favourite out of them all, but I'd probably say the blush brush. I don't actually use it for blush, but bronzer. It's the perfect shape and size for applying an all over bronze and blending in any cheek products you have applied. It's super soft and washes really well. 


Thanks for reading :) 
xo