It's monthly favourites time again! It's been so hot I've been shunning makeup for bikinis and sunscreen, but a few bits still caught my eye. I've even included a few non beauty favourites!
What have you been loving this month?!
It's monthly favourites time again! It's been so hot I've been shunning makeup for bikinis and sunscreen, but a few bits still caught my eye. I've even included a few non beauty favourites!
What have you been loving this month?!
August is the season of the setting powder, and so I'm rounding up my favourites for you today. I'm powder-fussy, I must admit, I don't want anything that looks cakey, or feels heavy, I just want my makeup set in place.
The One With a Bit of Coverage: The Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder in 52 is my go to for bumping up the coverage of my foundation. I quite often just pair this with a little concealer and Bob's your uncle, you've got a base. It offers a little extra coverage, without feeling or looking heavy on the skin. Good stuff.
The One For Your Handbag: I keep the Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot powder on hand throughout the day for touchups, it's incredibly lightweight, practically undetectable on the skin, but it really mattifies the skin without taking away the healthy 'glow'. Also, the slight yellow tones help fight redness, bonus!
The Glow Giver: When I'm after a little extra glowy-ness, I reach for the MAC MSF in Lightscapade, which when dusted under the eyes & down the nose gives you the kind of glow you should only see on an angel. Not an exaggeration.
The Face Perfector: Nothing minimises the look of pores, and makes your face look as softened as the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light. I can only imagine that this powder is made from finely milled fairy dust.
The All-Rounder (and My Favourite): This one goes to the Chanel Les Beiges in B10. It softens the look of pores, adds a healthy glow and sets makeup in place for the day. What more could you possibly want from a powder?!
Let's take a moment to admire the pretties shall we? Ahhhhh...
Tarte is a relatively new brand to me, it's not readily available in the UK (unless you're willing to pay nearly double US prices to get it off QVC, which I am not) so my first forray into the brand came when my lovely Canadian friends Vanessa and Alexandra sent me some products! I've not tried much, but I've fallen head over heels for the 12 Hour Amazonian Clay Blushes.
The lovely Alexandra sent me Captivating after I won her giveaway (woohoo!), a beautiful matte peach which really sculpts the cheeks and make me look like a better version of myself. I then bought Fearless in the states, a really beautiful bold pink, which gives me a really natural looking flush.
What really impresses me about these blushes is the wear time, when they say 12 hour, that's not an exaggeration. Even if my foundation doesn't hold out, these do!
Have you tried anything from Tarte?
The Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper has received a fair amount of love in the blogging community recently, so naturally, when browsing the aisles of Sephora, I had to have a look. I was skeptical about picking this up, since I was quite happy with my Soap and Glory Supercat Liner, which is slightly cheaper, and much more readily available in the UK. Curiosity, however, got the better of me, and this made the transatlantic trip home with me, to be put to the test at my dressing table.
I should take a moment here to explain that I am something of an eyeliner noob. I can't do gel liner, or liquid liner in a brush and pen form for the life of me, and even pencil liner is iffy. The Supercat Liner works for me because I can basically angle it from the corner of my eye, pointing up the edge of my brow, and press it down, which gives me the perfect base for a winged liner.
The main difference between Supercat and the Tattoo Liner is that Supercat has a foam tip, not unlike that of a felt tip pen, whereas this one is a very fine bristled brush. Because it's so fine I can basically lay this right in the base of my lashes, and create a really really fine line which I love! Because the bristles aren't as firm as the nib of Supercat, it is a little trickier to create a wing, but after three or four uses I got the hang of it. This has a more precise end, which makes creating a precise wing a lot easier. I've had trouble with the end of the Supercat Liner misshaping before too, which I would assume won't happen with bristles!
As far as formula goes, This is a little wetter than Supercat, which I like, it's more like a true liquid liner, and you never have to build it up. The liner itself is jet black, and once it's down, it's going nowhere, I've got perfect wings til bedtime.
I was skeptical, but I think I'm a Trooper convert! There will definitely be a sneaky Sephora order when I run out!
What's your favourite liner?
I guess you guys know buy know that I've been feeling pretty disenchanted with blogging recently. I used to blog because I was excited and wanted to share, but it's started to feel less exciting recently. I don't really know why that is, there's no real reason for it, it's just my brain being weird I guess.
I've been craving time offline too, something that never used to happen. I've wanted to be outside, enjoying my last summer holiday, not cooped up on a laptop in a hot bedroom.
I always feel less inspired when I'm out of London too, so hopefully spending next weekend back up there will help!
That doesn't mean I want to stop producing content though, I'm just running out of steam a little here on the ideas front. I'd love if you guys could tell me what to see here, do you want to see drugstore stuff, more videos, pictures of my face, more standalone reviews? What floats your blog reading boat, so to speak?
In the meantime, I'm going to skimp out on a proper post today, because I'm writing this on the first Saturday my boyfriend has had off work in two months. So we are going out, to make the most of the great British Summer.
See you all tomorrow!
So I have fallen in love with a new brand, and it's all looking pretty pink. Josie Maran products aren't readily available in the UK, unless you are willing to fork out for Sephora shipping, so I stocked up in the States. I already wish I'd picked up more because I love it all.
I should mention that for a luxury brand, Josie Maran isn't particularly pricey, especially with the good exchange rate, and it's all formulated without parabens, sulphates and phlatates. Good stuff.
I've spoken about the Josie Maran Agan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil in Limitless Pink before so I will keep it brief here. This is the product that kickstarted my intrigue with the brand, when I added this into my online basket last minute during my first Sephora order. You can check out my full review here but the gist is it's a really pretty cream blush shade, which wears pretty sheer (second swatch), but just adds a glowy flush to the cheeks. It's pretty on the lips too, but it doesn't last very long!
So the first thing that made it into my basket in the states was a miniature of the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Cheek Gelee in Pink Escape, since I've heard so much about them. I went with the mini size, a) just because I didn't know if I'd like it and b) I knew I'd never be able to use up a whole one of the big one anyway! This is a really sheer blush product (third swatch) but it gives a super natural glow to the cheeks.
I'd heard a couple of people mention the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Eyeshadows so I was keen to try them out. I really wish I'd picked up more of these because they are freaking amazing. The colour I ended up with is Playa del Pink, which isn't pink at all, but a pretty golden champagne. You have to mix these up, and then apply it with the little doe foot applicator and it just sets and does not budge. I fell asleep without taking my makeup off (naughty, I know), and it was still perfectly intact in the morning. That's impressive.
The one I was most excited about was the Josie Maran Love Your Lips Hydrating Lipstick in Playful Pink, I hadn't actually heard anyone talk about them so when I stumbled across it in Sephora I was pretty intrigued. From the gorgeous packaging (they feel so luxurious) to the shade, I love everything about this lipstick. It's got a 'hydrating ring' of pure argan oil around the pigmentation of the lipstick, which gives it an incredibly moisturising formula, and also sheers out the colour. The colour is a really pretty, summery pink, and I just freaking love it.
Have you tried anything from Josie Maran? What should I try next?
Gone are the days when gloss means sticky lips, and one gust of wind causing all your hair to stick to them. Makeup production has advanced to a point where gloss means gloss, not tacky. And now, drugstores are flooded with non-sticky, long lasting, pretty lipglosses, and I've fallen head over heels for a few.
The balmiest, most hydrating of the bunch here is the L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire Lip Gloss, a gorgeous balm, gloss, stick hybrid that offers colour, hydration, and that beautiful glossy finish. The shade range is a little squiffy for these, the shade pictured (Rose Melody 101) is probably the only shade I would wear. A shame, but this is a perfect everyday pick, a good one for the handbag.
If bold lips are your jam, I'd go for the Revlon Colourstay Moisture Stains, which should be launching in the UK any day now. There aren't really any, what I would call 'proper neutrals', in this collection, they're all pretty bright. The shade above is the tamest of the bunch, and this is still pretty bright (LA Exclusive)! These are awesome, glossy and pretty on the lips, but they leave a stain so as they wear down and loose their glossiness, you're still left with a pop of colour.
The least long lasting of the bunch is probably the Maybelline The Elixirs Coloursensational, but I'll forgive them that since they've got a dreamy shade range and a gorgeous formula. Pictured above are the shades Breathtaking Apricot and Petal Plush, the former is my favourite, and both are fairly sheer, but intensely glossy, and moisturising too. I'm desperately awaiting the day these land in the UK.
And last but certainly not least, the Nyx Butter Glosses, a gorgeous, affordable, answer to all your gloss problems. The shades in this range are all much of the same, you've got peaches or nudey pinks (pictured above are Peaches & Cream and Vanilla Cream Pie), but they are all lovely. They apply incredibly smoothly to even chapped lips, and stick around well throughout the day (it's still a gloss, it's not gonna last all day, but it does a coupla hours which is pretty damn good).
Are you a fan of any of these glosses?
Another trio of high end beauty bits that are tickling my fancy right now. I'm sorry everything looks like it's floating in this image, we are experiencing an unprecedented amount of sunlight in the UK and it's damn near impossible to take photos. But, as they say at the Moulin Rouge, the show must go on.
First up, my main cheek jam right now, the Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Streak. I caved and got this because it seems that every blogger who was gifted this as a press release has waxed lyrical on it, and to be honest, I was curious to see whether they were praising it because it was good, or because it was gifted to them. I trust no one, clearly. The palette contains a bronzer, highlight shade and a blush, all sized based on what you will need to use more of, a clever idea. I like the packaging, it's sleek and perfect for travel, the mirror is a good size, and the lid is magnetised, so it stays shut, but isn't going to chip your nail polish when you try to open it. I picked the shade Streak partly because it has the lightest bronzer of all three palettes, and partly because I'm obsessed with the lipstick and gloss of the same name. Completing the trifecta and all that. I have to say the bronzer isn't my favourite, whilst the shade isn't too dark for me, I find it to be a little orange on in tone, and once you apply it to the skin it looks a hella lot more glittery than it does in the pan. I will use it, and it wouldn't put me off buying it again, but it's just not my favourite. The real stars, however, are the blush and highlight shade. The blush is a matte peach which is my current favourite shade, it really shapes my face a lot better than any other blush shade. The highlight is a peachy golden shade, which looks really pretty layered over anything peachy or coral, I'm wearing it today over the Chanel Creme Blush in Intonation and it looks really pretty. The pigmentation of all three is good, and they are buttery soft and smooth. I am impressed with this, I just wish the bronzer was a little better.
My other current cheek product of choice is the Chanel Creme Blush in Revelation, a recent rediscovery. These are an all time favourite of mine, the formula is so spot on, soft and easy to blend whilst being really long lasting. This particular shade is a perfect natural flush on me, and I reach for it a lot.
And lastly a shoutout to the MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist. I may flirt with other cream shadows, but I always come back to the MAC Paint Pots. Nothing is as long wearing and durable on my lids, they're just good stuff. I love the shade Constructivist, it's a no-effort smokey eye in one swoop. If you don't have this, you need it.
What high-end beauty are you loving right now?
Three weeks into the challenge and my selfie taking prowess has dropped to an all time low. My most spoken sentence this week - "Does my face really look like that?!". It's been a traumatic week. I almost resent Tami for putting me through it. Almost.
This challenge has made me realise that I really need to try and wear brighter lipsticks a bit more, I seem to be something of a nude-lip-lover.
I started the week with the easy to wear Max Factor Colour Elixir Giant Pen Stick in Subtle Coral, which is kinda like a gloss in stick form. A pretty peachy nude, nothing exciting, but it looks pretty and it wears nice, even on chapped lips.
Day 16 I went for my new favourite gloss, the Nyx Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream. A beautiful creamy peach gloss (did you guess that buy the name?), it's pretty balmy and hydrating, but still offers a beautiful colour & glossy finish.
Day 17 was my second attempt at trying to pull off the Revlon Colourstay Moisture Stain in LA Exclusive, and I'm pleased to report it went much better. This is too light a shade for me to wear on my natural skin tone, but since I'm a shade darker than usual (could you even tell?) it worked! This is a really pretty gloss which wears down to a pretty pink stain. I sported this down the beach, and it looked pretty, well, pretty.
For day 18 I returned to a trusty favourite, rather than a new pick, the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Streak a gorgeous coral shade that perks up my day quite nicely. I've spoken about this a thousand times, it's a good'un.
Another trusty favourite, the next day I went with the amazing Dior Lip Glow. Is it true this is being discontinued? If so that's a real shame, it's a beautiful product. This just gives my lips a little something something, it adds a little pinkness and a little glossiness. Much love for this one.
Day 20 and my lips were feeling a little chapped, so I opted for the L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick - thing. Who knows what the name of that product is. I have the shade Rose Melody, a pretty nude pink (shocker, I know) which has the hydration of a balm, the finish of a gloss and the colour of a lipstick (my brain is now singing that Hannah Montana song, YOU GET THE BEEEEESSSSSST OF BOTH WORLDS...).
I don't normally go for a lipstick AND a gloss in one sitting, but on Day 22 I applied the Lipstick Queen Lipstick in Pink Sinner and it just felt a little matte, so I added a little of the Maybelline Coloursensational The Elixir in Petal Plush, which added gloss, shine, and lifted my lips a little. I actually really like the combination of these products, my lips but pinker!
Ten days left! Don't forget to check out Tami's post here.
What lipsticks have you been wearing this week?
It's been a while since I've done one of these posts, so I thought it was time it made a comeback. My mascara wardrobe has been made up of three drugstore picks I purchased Stateside, and whilst each has their own merits, none of them have totally blown me out of the water. Nevertheless, I thought I'd share the deets with you guys!
First up, the only mascara that is exclusive to The States, the Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara. I bought this completely because of all the positive reviews I've seen across the blogging & YouTube community. It's pretty hyped up. I must admit, the packaging drew me in too, it's so different and unique. It's got a plastic bristle wand with lots of short & stubby bristles, which theoretically should do a good job of getting all the lashes. The formula is a little dryer than I would normally like, it's pretty thick and not the easiest to work with. While there's nothing wrong with this mascara on paper, it's just lacking a little something for me. I was expecting to be wowed, but I can't say I was. It's a nice mascara, but it's nothing special.
Next up is the L'Oreal Miss Manga Mega Volume Mascara. My first observation here is that the wand is pretty similar to the Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara, unsurprising really since L'Oreal own Lancome, and they are doing a good job of duping their high end brands in their drugstore line at the moment. The wand is tapered, and slightly twisted, and the bristles aren't as close together as I would like. The formula is wet, but not too wet and not at all flaky so no complaints there. I also like that there is a little kink in the wand before the brush, making it easier to move the brush around, and wiggle it into the lashes without getting product all over your face (does anyone else do that, or is it just me?). The problem I have with this is the same problem I have with the Lancome offering, the bristles aren't placed closely together enough to really coat each individual lash, instead they end up kinda clumped together, with massive gaps. You can fix the problem if you spend a while brushing them through, but to be honest it's all a bit of a faff. That being said, a few people have commented on my lashes when I'm wearing this, so maybe it's worth the faff.
Lastly, the Maybelline Colossal Go Extreme Volume Mascara. I think I'm gonna give up trying Maybelline mascaras, they're nice enough but they really never blow me out of the water. This one has a thick, chunky natural bristle wand, which in theory I should love, and a great formula, however something just isn't working right with this. I can spend ages piling this on but it never looks that impressive. It coats every lash but to the bare minimum, leaving them looking pretty much how they looked to start with, just a little darker. Disappointing, because that wand looks like my dream wand!
Sorry that that was a little negative! It's always a shame when products don't work for you, but at least I can give you guys my thoughts!
What mascaras are you loving right now?
All of you based in the UK will no doubt be aware of the bizarre heatwave we appear to be having (if not, why don't you? Do you live underground?). Being the pastiest of pale girls out there, this of course means I'll be whacking out as much sunscreen as is humanly possible, to prevent myself turning that attractive shade of beetroot I usually turn. It seems to be working so I thought I'd dish the deets on the three piece SPF dream team I've got covering my back right now.
First up, the over-cautious option, the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Day-Touch Sunscreen in SPF 100+. Did you know you could get SPF 100? I didn't. Despite being ridiculously high in SPF, it's not at all heavy, and it doesn't leave a white cast on your skin so that's a plus. I've been using this for the places that seem to always burn, like the tops of my ears, why do they burn? I've also been using this on my face, and surprisingly it hasn't broken me out!
If I know I'm gonna be out in the sun, I've been reaching for the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen SPF 30. First of all, why aren't spray sunscreens a real thing in the UK? It's so much easier than rubbing a thick cream in! Secondly, this stuff is the bomb. I just cover my whole body in the stuff and I don't burn. Fantastic. It's lightweight, soaks in almost immediately, water resistant and all in all just fab. The only negative is that it smells like furniture polish. I just douse myself in Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess perfume after and that does the trick.
For days when I'm not planning on going out sunbathing, I've been reaching for the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 10, which is incredibly moisturing, and a great option for when you know your only sun exposure during the day will be when you pop out to get your lunch. It looked super pretty when I got it, with hydrating ribbons swirled through it all, but it's looking a little...brown now. It is incredibly hydrating though, I can skip moisturiser on days I use this!
What are your favourite sunscreens?
So today I thought I'd try something a little different. I tend to get a little rambly here, I'm good at talking and things can get pretty detailed around these parts, so I thought it would be interesting to shake it up a little. I'm going to attempt five mini reviews in five minutes. Five short sharp reviews that give you the facts!
Also, the weather has been so good this week I couldn't resist taking some pictures outside! So much green!
So first up, the foundation I've been wearing since I returned from The States. Despite not having a tan, my regular foundations were too light for me, so I picked up the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation. I've tried the two other Healthy Mix bases and I really like them both so I figured I'd try this one. It's a nice base, a medium coverage with a pretty natural finish, the wear time isn't fantastic but with a good primer and powder, it'll last. I like it, but it hasn't blown me out of the water.
The awesome Daphne got two of these in her Birchbox and kindly gave me one, isn't she a doll? I haven't tried much from The Balm so I was pretty damn excited. It's an itsy bitsy sample size of The Balm's How Bout Them Apples Palette shade Pie, so cute. This I LOVE. It's a gorgeous creamy blush in a pretty pink red, it's long lasting on the cheeks and it blends out really easily. It looks good on the lips too, although it doesn't hang around long and can be a little drying. However, awesome cheek product, thoroughly recommend.
When I saw this lip balm as a freebie in a magazine I just had to pick it up. I've tried a few Rodial products and always been impressed. Whilst I like the Rodial Stemcell Super Food Glam Balm lip's texture, it's thick and feels incredibly hydrating on the lips, the rose scent puts me off massively. If you're a fan of rose though, awesome product.
Another magazine freebie, the Clinique Chubby Stick in Whoppin' Watermelon. To be honest, I'm not 100% sure why I picked this up, since I'm not a massive fan of these. I find them to be really sheer, and not at all hydrating, so I'm not really sure of why you would choose this one. I think there are much better chubby sticks on the market! The Chubby Stick Intense range from Clinique is better if Clinique is your jam, they have a much better colour payoff! This is basically just a sheer tint of colour, and if I'm honest, there are better ones out there.
I picked up this mini can of Percy & Reed Reassuringly Firm Session Hold Hairspray for my trip and have been using it since I've been back too, there's a lot of product in this little can! If you can get past the typical hairspray scent (powdered old ladies) it's a nice product, gives your hair hold without making it feel at all like it's got any product in. A good'un, will definitely be purchasing the full size!
Have you tried any of these products?
It's here, what you've all been waiting for. Head on over to my YouTube channel to see the horrific amount of makeup I bought in America. Be warned, it's a long'un, and there's a lot of lip products!
Before we get into today's post, I just wanted to thank you all for your sweet comments on my last blog post. Your support means so much to me, I promise I'll be back properly next week!
I'm starting to wish I'd never agreed to do this challenge with Tami, because this gal can't take a good selfie for toffee. Also, I know it looks like I'm wearing the same tshirt in day 11 & 13, but I'm not I just have about six of these!
So day 8 was a lazy day, and I literally just wore mascara and lip balm, so that's not very exciting, sorry! The lip balm I went for was the EOS Summer Fruits balm, which once you get through the weird waxy layer is actually a very nice light balm.
Day 9 I forgot to take a selfie so had to take one in the car, hence the glasses. How do people take good sunglasses selfies? Anyway, here I'm sporting the Clinique Chubby Stick in Whoppin' Watermelon, which, if I'm honest, I'm not a fan of. As you can see, it's not got much colour, and I actually find it quite drying on the lips, so I'm not really sure that it's worth the money, there are much better chubby sticks on the market! If you really want a Clinique one, pick up the intense version, they pack a lot more punch!
Day 10 I wasn't feeling 100% so I spent the day working from the comfort of my bed, with my hair in plaits. I felt like a child. I skipped full on lipstick and went for the Maybelline Baby Lips Dr Rescue Coral Craze, a medicated lip balm with a slight peachy tint. Good stuff.
Since my lips were feeling pretty hydrated after all that lip balm, on Day 11 I went all out with my favourite red lipstick, the NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick in Cruella. You guys know I love this one, long lasting matte colour, that isn't really drying on the lips.
Next up, another hydrating pick for a day spent spring cleaning, the Josie Maran Argan Lip and Cheek Infinity Oil in Limitless Pink (longest product name ever), this is a super hydrating creamy oil in a pretty pink shade, that just packs a moisturising punch and makes things look a little more put together.
Looking much more polished than I did the rest of the week, day 13 I opted for the Sephora Glossy Lip Crayon in 01 Glossy Pink. These are somewhat like the Soap and Glory Gloss Sticks, but less sticky in formula, just creamy, glossy, sheer pigment in a pretty pink. There's a little more sparkle in this than I normally opt for but for some reason it works! And lastly for day 14, I went for it's sister, the Sephora Glossy Lip Crayon in 03 Glossy Orange. I couldn't take a photo where the colour of this really came across, in the bullet it's a bright orange, but it wears as a sheer wash that is suprisingly...wearable. I like.
Don't forget to check out Tami's post too, you can find it here.
Til Saturday!
Halfway through the year and so far Bed In The Kitchen has seen a brand new post every single day. Can we be honest here? I'm a little overworked.
I've decided to take this week off. I need a brain breather, some time to come up with some fresh, exciting new content for you guys, because this blog is my passion, and I don't want to be creating sub-par content.
So the plan is there will be no new content until next Saturday, with the exception of Wednesday, when my 31 Days in Lipstick post will still go live. I hope you guys don't mind.
Another thing, I've decided to cool it on the This Week's Most Loved posts for a while. I started them when I was mixing up products enough to have something new to talk about every week, but right now I'm not. I'm struggling to find products to talk about, and the last thing I want is for content to feel forced.
That being said, it's nice to have a regular feature to turn to on a Sunday, so if you guys have anything you'd like to see, speak now!
That goes for anything really, if there's ever a post you'd like me to do, just tell me! I always want suggestions!
Thank you all for your continued support, I love you guys!
Til next week x x x
Another day, another selection of budget-friendly beauty bits that are tickling my fancy right now. There are a lot of drugstore bits and pieces that are really hitting the mark right now, so save your pennies and head there for a bargain!
Soap and Glory Scrub 'Em and Leave 'Em Body Buff: I'm a Soap and Glory Scrub Veteran, but this one I'd never tried, so I picked up the mini for my trip to the states. It's super scrubby but leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated! It's the signature Soap and Glory scent (read: delicious) and the scent will last on your skin a long time.
Physicians Formula Warm Nude Shimmer Strips: This was an awesome giveaway prize from my lovely friend Alexandra. This is the first addition to my stash from Physicians Formula, and I'm pretty impressed. Nine shimmering nude shades, they aren't the most pigmented of the bunch but they're good enough for me, and for the price point, pretty damn impressive. There's a fair few good one wash wonder shades in here, and they are all shades I would wear, there's nothing iffy in here. A good addition to the stash.
Rimmel Scandaleyes Nude Liner: One that's been in my stash for a really long time, but never really been loved, I threw this into my carry on bag as I was heading to the airport last month and boy am I glad that I did. When you're jet lagged beyond belief after three red-eye flights, this stuff makes you look almost human. A total godsend.
Barbara Daly Cream Shadow Stick in Shimmering Sands: I've been loving using this over the last couple of weeks, it's such an easy all-in-one eye product, just smudge a little of this all over the lid and your eye makeup is all done. Long lasting and really pretty.
What budget beauty bits have you been loving recently?
I thought it was about time for a catch up! How are we all?
I'm back from the States now and I'm in full post-travel comedown mode, where all I want to do is lie in bed and cry about how jetlagged I am, whilst snacking on Snickerdoodles and watching a slideshow of holiday photos on repeat. Unfortunately, no matter how jetlagged you actually are (very, last night I fell asleep totally zonked at 9.30pm, but was wide awake at 1am and spend a good five hours lying wide awake in bed, before falling back to sleep, only to be woken up an hour later. I feel like a dead person today.), you can only get away with using the jetlagged excuse for two days. So I'm screwed now.
I've got a tonne of photos and video clips from my travels to share with you, stories I want to tell and share, but right now I can't bring myself to sort through them and find some kind of order. I'm gonna leave it for now and get on that next week.
Now that Uni is done until the end of September, I'm finding it hard to stay motivated with everything else on my to do list. Normally, knowing I have to work around classes and deadlines at school means I keep on top of everything else too, but without school I'm finding it very hard to maintain concentration. I was always one of those weird kids happy to go back to school in September, am I the only one who thinks Summer break is too long? I'd much rather have a few of those weeks off elsewhere throughout the year. I mean, two weeks for Christmas is nowhere near enough.
My trip to America just reinforced to me how much I want to live there in the future. I've been saying that since my first trip to the States, but this trip was different, I got to really experience what it would be like to live and work out there. If I could pack my suitcase and leave now, I would (who am I kidding, I haven't even unpacked yet).
In other news, my boyfriend is working his butt off at his parents' bar and restaurant, so we haven't seen much of each other. He has Sunday off though, so I'm really looking forward to spending some time with him. September will be four years since we started seeing each other, so we are looking at going away for a long weekend together somewhere. I finally got my tax rebate for last year this week, so that'll help towards a good trip! If you have any suggestions on somewhere nice we could go, do let me know!
So other than losing my blogging mo-jo a bit, and having the post-travel-blues, there's not much exciting to report around these parts. Prepare yourselves for a smorgasbord of holiday photos next week!
I love a smokey eye, it’s probably the look that flatters my face best, but time is of the essence and the perfect smokey eye can sometimes be as hard to achieve as human flight. Sometimes, it’s just not gonna happen.
Now I’m not just telling you this to bum you out, I of course have a solution up my sleeve! I’ve got a simple, go to, two step smokey eye back up plan. Did the title give it away?
My go to smokey eye fix comes in the form of a crayon and a pencil. I’ve waxed lyrical on the Kiko Shadow Stick in 06 Bronze before, a gorgeous bronzed taupe shadow stick with a beautifully creamy formula and awesome staying power, so you know the drill by now. I take the crayon all over my lid, not being particularly neat or careful, and blend it at the edges, with either a coarse bristle brush or my finger tips, either works!
When that's done, I take the Max Factor Kohl Liner in Black messily along my upper lash line, and my waterline too. I just take a q-tip or a small brush and blend the edges of the liner, which creates a dark, smokey effect along the lash line.
Finish off with lashings of mascara! It's that easy. It's a two minute job and it looks awesome!
What products do you use for an easy smokey eye?
Well that's a lot more of my face than any of you want to see. Sorry about that. Today's post is pretty exciting because it's in collaboration with my awesome friend Tami, who you guys should be following by now. Anyway, this post is entirely courtesy of her amazing brain, so go thank her. So we were having one of many delirious WhatsApp discussions, when she mentioned in passing that she was going to be challenging herself to wear a different lipstick every day throughout the month of July, and she was gonna document it on her blog. She was kind enough to let me get involved too, so here's what has been gracing my lips during the first week of July, don't forget to check out Tami's Post too!
I'm pretty terrible at switching up my lip products, so hopefully this will make me shake it up a bit! That being said, I've basically only worn nude lipsticks this week!
I started off July in gorgeous California, with my brand new Bite Lipstick in Fig, a cheeky Sephora purchase. I'm totally obsessed with these lipsticks, I wish I'd bought more! This is a gorgeous pinky nude that has the most amazing formula. This could just be my new favourite lipstick.
Day two I headed up to Anaheim to spend the day in Disney, and I went for a super moisturising gloss, the Nyx Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Nude Pink, a pretty milky pink that really just goes with everything. Another cheeky America purchase (you'll spot a few of these in here).
Day three was travel day, but first we had pool time and a grill up at our friends house. I went with my favourite lipstick, the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy. It's my perfect nude, and so comfortable on the lips.
That big smile on day four? That's because I had just arrived in New York! My lips were really dry from the six hour red eye so I went with the Maybelline Baby Lips Neons in 95 Strike a Rose, a pretty neon pink that's super hydrating.
Day five I decided to try out one of my new Nyx Butter Glosses in Vanilla Cream Pie, a pretty nude pink shade that's super hydrating, and really long lasting for a gloss.
Next up, another Bite Lipstick (I love these things), Musk, from the Bite Lipstick Travel Duo. Another nude! I was clearly feeling a nude vibe this week!
And last but certainly not least, the Maybelline Colour Sensational Shine Gloss in Cashmere Rose, a pretty peachy nude with just a hint of shimmer. I've spoken about this product before, it's a gorgeous product, but can cling to dry patches.
Don't forget to check out Tami's post here!
With the weather hotting up in England, I'm giving you the lowdown on my favourite facial mists today, to help you guys keep your cool!
The Best for On The Go: This has to go to the Avene Eau Thermale Spring Water. Basically just water in a can, but this is such a lovely product to have in your handbag for on the go. It won't disrupt your makeup, it'll keep you cool, and it's even good if you've got a headache.
The Spot Fighter: I use the Lush Tea Tree Water on a nightly basis to combat any skin nasties and it does an amazing job.
The Face Hairspray: Nothing adheres makeup to your face quite like the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. A few spritzes of this apres-makeup application will ensure your makeup stays put all day, no matter what the humidity, or how long you're gonna be out of the house.
The Handy to Have: There are so many uses for the MAC Fix+ Spray that if I listed them all we'd be here til September. My favourite ways to use this though? To intensify shadow pigments, and to get rid of any cakiness on the skin. It's a good'un.
The Glow Giver: Nothing brightens my skin up quite like the Caudalie Eau De Beaute spray, it's packed with refreshing essential oils that really get my skin looking brighter and healthier.
What are your favourite Facial Sprays?
So a week or so ago, I had a post titled Pretty Packaging, and I thought it only fair to chase it up with a round up of disappointing packaging. This post was actually inspired by my awesome friend Daphne, so you should go check her out!
Let's start with the Max Factor Face Finity Foundation and Primer. I love the products inside, but the packaging leaves a little to be desired. The glass is really thick and heavy, the pump is unnecessarily large meaning the lid is also big. The whole thing is pretty clunky and heavy, it makes it hard to travel with and they take up a lot of room in the stash. Something sleeker would have been nice.
I'm a big fan of the boxed blushes from Benefit, but let's be honest, the Benefit Rockateur Boxed Blush packaging is just tacky. Gold snakeskin and lace? Really? No thank you. And as much as I love the boxes, they aren't good for travel either.
The L'Oreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick in Dating Coral is a gorgeous Summer pick, but the weird gold and clear plastic packaging is chunky and quite weird looking. The clear plastic makes it look quite cheap, a shame since it's got an awesome formula.
You guys know I'm a big fan of the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, and whilst the packaging is nice and small and compact, the writing on the tube has worn off nearly completely.
The Body Shop Almond Nail and Hand Cream is one of my favourites, but the metal packaging is really handbag-unfriendly. Four days in the handbag and every time you open the tube product oozes out, and there were two little holes in the packaging. Desk only this one.
I've mentioned before that I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Tanya Burr Lipglosses, but the packaging to me seems pretty cheap, it almost looks like a magazine freebie. Such a shame since there are some seriously pretty packaged lipglosses out there that aren't half as good.
I really love the formula of the Benefit Hydra Smooth Lip Colours, they're buttery smooth and hydrating, but they aren't overly creamy or slippy if that makes sense. However, they get barely any use, and it's all down to the packaging. They kinda look like bizarre greek pillars, which is kind of cute but not very practical, chuck this in your handbag and a) it will take up much more space than any other lip product would, and b) the lid is guaranteed to come off. Also, 9/10 times, I smush the lipstick all over the lid just shutting it. It's quite cheap looking, definitely not a reflection of the £15 price tag.
The Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush is one of the only drugstore cream blushes I like, but I can't really see where Max Factor were going with this packaging. Mine broke on the first day I had it, tiny flimsy packaging, and let's face it, it's not pretty is it?
I don't really mind MAC packaging for the most part, it's simple and it get's the job done. That being said, the clear plastic window in the MSF's and blushes always pops out, which is really frustrating.
And lastly, TheBalm Mary Lou Manizer. I know a lot of people love the packaging of this, but it's really not for me, I'm just not a cartoon people sort of person. Also, such a finely milled powder could do with a little extra bump-proofing!
What packaging are you not a fan of?
I'm on my travels this week in the States, so I thought I'd better let you lovely lot have a rummage through my makeup bag! I'm sort of packing for a lot of different eventualities, meetings, pool time, hot humid city days, and evenings too, so I've got a fair few options!
I'm back tomorrow (sad face) but I'm sure I'll have a cheeky purchase or two to share with you soon!
Have an awesome Sunday guys!
It's finally July, and it's freaking hot. When I head out in Central London I can basically feel my face melting off. This months picks are all based around that summery theme, so without further ado, here are five awesome products that are definitely worth the splurge this month.
First up, something every girl needs in their makeup arsenal, the Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray, which is, in essence, hairspray for your face. A few spritzes of this post makeup application will ensure that your makeup stays put no matter how hot and sweaty you're getting.
Another product to aid makeup lasting power, the Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot setting powder is top notch. Super lightweight and not cakey, but it does really help set foundation.
I have fallen back in love with eyelash curlers recently, and as far as I'm concerned there aren't a better pair than the Shu Umera Lash Curlers. The lift they give to the lashes really opens up the eyes and it lasts such a long time too, even when you don't apply a waterproof mascara.
I love whacking out the highlighters in the summer, and one of my favourites is Benefit Watts Up!, a gorgeous golden champagne creamy highlighter. I like to take a little of this on my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and blend it into the tops of my cheekbones, and it just looks so lovely, no chunky glitter just a nice golden sheen.
And lastly, my favourite lip product for the Summer months, the Estee Lauder Pure Lip Shine in Plexi Pink, one I've spoken about a lot but it's just that good. A gorgeous sheer bright pink, it's just made for summer.
What will you be splurging on this month?
We arrived in New York City first thing yesterday morning, and man was I tired. Red Eye flights are not my friend, especially when you're flying into the path of a hurricane. After a few hotel-hiccups (top tip, always double check you've booked the right hotel), we chugged two coffees and headed for a wander.
We are staying at the Grand Hyatt on East 42nd and Lexington, it's a gorgeous hotel, right next to Grand Central Terminal. We managed a bit of a stroll round Times Square before we had to go back for a nap, we were just totally wiped out. The good thing was that being the fourth, it was pretty quiet since a lot of people were assumably celebrating with family.
I've taken a ton of photos today, but I just couldn't wait to share these snaps I took whilst walking down Fifth Avenue after dinner this evening. We ate at Carmines in Times Square, and then walked up to Central Park and back down Fifth. As we did the sun was setting and the glow through the buildings was just beautiful. It's an incredibly beautiful city, and I can't wait to share more with you guys.
I've been on a bit of a blush love train recently (I blame Vanessa), and one of my current loves is the Illamasqua Blush Duo in Lover and Hussy. I picked this up at a bargain price in a blog sale, and it had only been swatched once. I had actually wanted this last summer but never got around to picking it up, so I was so pleased to come across this!
For starters, the packaging is definitely on the bulky side but I have actually found myself reaching for it because of the mirror inside, for everything from plucking my brows to doing my eye makeup. I don't know what's special about it but the mirror is really nice!
So onto the product itself, I wasn't sure whether I would love the shade Lover, a bright matte apricot shade, just because it is pretty bright, but it looks really lovely on the cheeks. Hussy is a gorgeous bright matte candy pink, just perfect for summer, it really perks up the complexion. The powders are really soft and pigmented, so you only need a tiny bit, I can't see me hitting pan on these any time soon. The wear of these is excellent too, they will still be intact on the cheeks by bedtime, even after a hot sweaty day in London, no mean feat I assure you.
This is my first forray into the world of Illamasqua blushes, but it certainly won't be my last!
Have you tried any products from Illamasqua?
Summer is officially here, and so obviously my first priority is mixing up my makeup stash. Obviously. I know, I have a problem.
For me, Summer makeup means glowy, bronzed skin, and pretty pink colours. Today I'm coming at you with my pick of the bunch.
When it's hot, your makeup is going to disappear from your face much faster than usual, so a good primer is essential. Right now I am obsessed with the Max Factor Face Finity Primer which in a nutshell, is basically glue for your makeup. It's not budging anywhere with this.
When it comes to bases, I want something that's gonna make my skin look naturally healthy and glowy, but I don't want to compromise on coverage. A good all rounder is the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation, which has a good medium but buildable coverage, and makes the skin look really healthy and glowy.
I love using cream products in the Summer months, and the Bourjois Bronzing Primer is a favourite of mine, I like to take a tiny amount of this on the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush in the hollows of my cheeks and around my temples. It blends out seamlessly and gives a naturally bronzed look. I'm loving pairing that with the Estee Lauder Pure Colour Cheek Rush Cello Shot in Pink Patent, which is a gorgeous bold pink liquid blush which looks incredibly natural on the cheeks, and lasts really well throughout the day. If I'm not feeling cream blush, a nice shimmery one will do the trick, one of my favourites is the NARS Orgasm blush a deep peach with a strong golden shimmer, it just screams summer. I like to go all out with highlighter too, to give my skin a real glow, one of my favourites is TheBalm Mary Lou Manizer, a gorgeous champagne gold highlight that really gets your skin glowing.
I'm all about the bold lip colours for Summer, but I do love a sheer formula. The Estee Lauder Pure Colour Lip Shine in Plexi Pink is a beautiful blue toned bright pink, but it's sheer formula means it's not too scary, and still daytime appropriate. A similar formula is the Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Colour and I love the shade Rosy, a pinky coral lipstick that can be built up to pack a punch, or worn sheer for a little pop of colour. If I feel like going all out then I'll reach for the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in L'Exuberante, a vivid matte pink with blue undertones. It's bright, but it's also really freaking gorgeous.
What are your favourite Summery makeup picks?
It's been seriously warm in the UK over the last couple of weeks, causing a hasty switch up my makeup drawers to include a more heat-friendly selection of products. The rotation also took place in my handbag, and here's what was left.
Blotting Sheets: Pretty self explanatory, for my skin, heat = oil. I like to keep The Body Shop Tea Tree Blotting Tissues on hand, they absorb any excess oil on your skin like a dream.
Setting Powder: My makeup seems to just vanish off my face throughout the day, so I like to keep a good setting powder on hand. I love the Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot powder, which takes away any excess shine, and helps my makeup stay in place all day.
Hairbands: Again, pretty self explanatory, I always start the day with my hair down and styled, and by midday I want it up and off the back of my neck.
Facial Mist: This one is mostly for use on the tube, the underground in the summer heat is practically unbearable, so I keep a facial mist on hand to cool my skin and stop myself from overheating. The Aven Eau Thermale Spring Water is great because it's pretty much just water in a can.
Body Spray: Heat + Tubes + Walking around London = Hot sweaty Jaye. I like to keep a body spray on hand to counteract that. Right now I'm loving the Q Awe Body Mist, a fine, refreshing body mist scented with jasmin and rose.
If you read my beauty blog, or follow me on any kind of social media then you will know that on Saturday my dad and I headed to the airport with far too many clothes to head to LA. This is my second trip to LA, and I've fallen for the city even more.
We are here on business but we had a day to ourselves on Sunday before getting to work this week. The two of us, plus two work associates hired a little boat and took it out in Newport Beach. We picked up a box of beers, plugged in an iPod and cruised around the islands. It was pretty awesome. We ended up at my Dad's favourite sushi restaurant in the evening, Sushi on Fire, and gorged on delicious sushi. Not a bad day.
I'm hoping to get a little shopping done, and spend some time on the beach too. We are here til late Thursday night, when we head up to New York!
I've been filming bits and pieces from the days so far, I'm thinking about editing that into a little vlog? What do you guys think?
Perfume is something I mention infrequently here, mostly because I'm freaking awful at describing scents. However, a lot of people have asked me for perfume recommendations recently, so I figured I'd round up the ones currently in rotation for you.
Vera Wang Lovestruck was a birthday gift from my sister, and spot on it was too. I don't think I'd ever be brave enough to buy perfume as a gift, it's such a personal thing, but my sister clearly knows me very well. This is a floral scent, which I don't normally go for, but it's sweet enough that it works for me. It's got notes of Pink Guava, which gives it it's sweetness, Tuberose that makes up the floral component, and musky woods that stop it from being too overpoweringly sweet. The combination is a very grown up, but still playful scent, perfect for work or school. Plus, how cute is that bottle? Apparently this scent was inspired by Romeo and Juliet, ohhhh the romance.
I've always been a fan of quite strong scents, I have a few from Thierry Mugler, but the one I'm currently reaching for is Womanity. I'm not normally a fan of fig scents, but I love this. It's got a sweet fig note, caviar midnotes, and a fig wood tone too, and it's pretty intense. This is my go to for summer nights, it's quite a strong, grown up scent, but it's really really addictive.
One I have spoken about a few times before is the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche. This literally smells like summer in a bottle, it's such a refreshing fruity fragrance. There are a lot of notes in there but the ones that matter are vanilla and coconut. It smells like suncream and Pina Coladas. Freaking delicious.
My current 'signature fragrance' is Giorgio Armani Si, which was on my wishlist from it's September launch until I unwrapped it on Christmas day. People seem to either love or hate this fragrance, my awesome friend Melisa hates it, but I think it's positively addictive. The main note in this is Cassis, a very dark, rich, fruity scent, but it's also got Amber Wood, Patchouli and Freesia. It's one of those scents that would be described as 'sensual'. I love it.
Another daytime appropriate scent is Police To Be Woman, a fruity mix of clementines, lime and apple, with a few woody undertones. This is a super fresh perfume, one I always reach for on particularly hot days. Also, I love the bottle.
And lastly, my long term love Vera Wang Princess, the first proper perfume I ever fell for. This is a real mix of fragrances, there's waterlily, pink guava, musk, amber, apple, and mandarin, it's a really fun, fruity scent, with a little sophistication too.
What are your favourite fragrances?
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