November favourites are here and I'm keeping it short and sweet with six things worth a mention!
Roll on Christmas!
Let me know what products you've been loving!
Smokey eyes aren't all that easy, but a good palette is half the battle (the other half is blending). I'm a big fan of the smokey eye, and I've got an arsenal of the best palettes to help me. I've narrowed it down to five of the best to share with you guys.
The Classic Option: Could I mention anything here other than the original Urban Decay Naked Palette? This has everything you could possibly need to create a warm smokey eye, shimmery highlights, rich bronzes, matte crease shades and dark shades you can use for liner. The formulas are soft and smooth, easy to blend and richly pigmented. A winner, and a staple in every collection.
The Everyday Option: I had to mention the NARS And God Created the Woman palette here, this is my day to day go to. I love the shimmering champagnes, the pretty taupes and the rich chocolate colours. I can't fault NARS formulas, they're just so smooth. This is my go to, and I wouldn't be without it.
The Colour Option: Sometimes the mood strikes, and colour is the name of the game, and for that I reach for the Urban Decay Smoked Palette which houses some of the most beautiful jewel toned shadows you've ever seen. What I like about this palette is that it has the bright, colourful shades, but it's also got the other things you need, a matte brown for the crease, a highlight and a matte black to line. Although I don't use it that often, this is a favourite of mine.
The Budget Option: A product I don't mention regularly fits the bill here, the Wet and Wild The Naked Truth Palette. I honestly think that Wet and Wild shadows are fantastic, especially when you consider the price. This palette is super compact for a five shade offering, and offers every shade you need for a brown smokey look for under $5.
The Travel Option: This award goes to the Lorac Pocket Pro Palette, which contains the three (in my opinion) best shades from the classic Lorac Pro Palette. Nude, a perfect shimmery highlight, Pewter, a gorgeous bronzey taupe shimmer & Espresso, a dark matte brown for the crease and defining. I'm obsessed with this palette, it's just gorgeous!
What's your favourite smokey eye palette?
Let's all just take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this shall we? Last week my boyfriend treated me to this gorgeous gift set, and I'm absolutely in love with it.
The Urban Decay Full Frontal Lipstick Stash contains six miniature Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks and one full size 24/7 Glide on Lip Pencil, and retails for £29. The lip pencil and full size lipsticks retail at £15 each, so it's a good way to try a selection of shades for less than the cost of two lipsticks.
I'm a massive fan of the Revolution Lipsticks, I already have three in my collection, and they're all staples. The formula is possibly my favourite of all the lipsticks I've tried, it's creamy and smooth, intensely pigmented & long lasting. They're comfortable to wear, they don't transfer and they have a beautiful creamy finish, so six new shades to try were a welcome addition to my stash!
So the lipsticks! We've got a full range of colours here, no two are similar. Three are limited edition, exclusive to the set, and three are from the standard range First up, F-Bomb is from the permanent collection, it's what I would describe as a 'classic red', although it looks a little darker in the tube. A classic red is a staple in any collection, so this is a welcome addition!
Liar is from the standard collection, it's a beautiful brown toned nude. I was a little concerned that this would be a little too brown for me, but I actually really like it!
Then we have Gash, which despite the awful name, I think could be my favourite of them all. It's a beautiful berry toned red, dark and autumnal, this is the perfect lipstick for this time of year!
We have Illicit, which in my opinion has a slightly different formula. It's sheerer than the others, which is good because it's a real baby pink shade that wouldn't suit me at all if it was opaque. It gives a pretty pink glow to the lips, which I am a big fan of!
Ladyflower, a rosy berry pink, it kinda reminds me of a more pigmented Plumful, with a bit more of a pink tone. A good option for an everyday berry pink, I think this could become a favourite for me! This one is exclusive to the set.
And lastly, we have Crush. Crush is a pretty unique shade, it's a bright bold pink with blue undertones, and a slight golden sheen to it. It's a pretty brave colour for me, but I think I can make it work, I just need to have the confidence!
The lipliner included in the set is in the shade Ozone, which is completely invisible. I've wanted to try an invisible lipliner for ages so I was really excited to play with this. I honestly don't think I can do this justice, it pretty much creates a smooth base for the lipstick to go on, and really helps it adhere. I find it easier to create a smooth edge to the lipstick with this underneath too. It's amazing!
For £29, this set is an absolute bargain, and it'd make a great gift for any lipstick lover, or for you!
Are you a fan of the Urban Decay Lipsticks?
Sometimes, makeup needs to be easy. You want to look better than your makeup-less self, but you don't want to put any effort in, girl, I've been there. Right now I'm busy working toward my Uni deadlines so this is happening a lot, so I've filled my beloved Whistles pouch with five speedy products for easy makeup application.
The NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser deserves all the hype it gets. When ease is the name of the game, I just take a blob of this on the back of my hand, and then I use my fingers to blend it into my skin. It gives a really natural look, it's by no means high coverage, but it's pretty glowy so it gives life back into your skin and counteracts any redness. It's long lasting and it doesn't feel heavy on the skin, so I know I don't have to touch it up throughout the day. I've been skipping concealer and just building this up on any areas I feel need a little more coverage.
I like to add a little colour back into my cheeks, because I feel like it really gives my skin the perk it needs when I'm tired. The Dior Rosy Glow Blush is amazing for this, because it's a super bright shade but it's really sheer, so it's kinda hard to go wrong with, it just gives a natural glow to the cheeks. Super simple, and it's a gorgeous looking product to have in your makeup bag.
For eyes I've been keeping it super simple and I've gone back to using my MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist.This product is just so winter appropriate, it's an easy smokey eye. I pat this onto my lid with my finger and then I just use a soft blending brush to blend it all out. In this picture I actually did two layers on this day, for a more intense colour, but just one layer is nicer for a less dramatic look. Mascara is something I never skip, and recently I've been reaching for the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara, which is just a nice day to day option, not massively lengthening or volumising, but it defines the lashes nicely. Nothing dramatic, but it does the job.
And lastly I've been loving the NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Rikugien, a nudey-peachy-berry lip pencil that just gives your lips a little something something. It's a really comfortable formula, you can't feel it on your lips but it still lasts a long time for a glossy lip colour.
And that's a job done! The whole thing takes under ten minutes and it makes me feel put together even when I'm not!
How do you get ready fast and easy?
I had to dedicate an entire post to these nail polish combos because I'm FREAKING OBSESSED WITH THEM. It's such a simple look but I love it, and it feels just the right amount of festive for this awkward, 'can we be festive yet or is it too early', time period we are in right now.
I've been wearing either Essie's Urban Jungle or Revlon Colourstay Gel Envy in Ace of Spades all over the nails. Urban Jungle a gorgeous off white that looks really classy, I feel like a proper grown up with this on my nails, and Ace of Spades is the perfect wintery dark grey shade, and the formula of this polish is ridiculous, one coat gives glossy opaque colour. I've then been taking Essie Summit of Style, on the tips, in a sort of ombré effect. Summit of Style is such a gorgeous polish, a bronzey gold glitter topcoat, I love polishes like this that have big and little chunks of glitter in, I think they look so much better than single sized glitter chunks! Better for this 'ombre' effect of glitter anyway!
I think the reason this works so well is because Summit of Style gives the sparkly Christmassy feel, whilst Urban Jungle and Ace of Spades aren't your typical red/green/gold festive polishes, it makes it look a bit more polished and sophisticated. I can see me wearing these combos a lot!
I really do think that Essie is the best brand out their for nail polishes, their formulas are infallible, long lasting and glossy, whilst they seem to have every shade you could ever want! That being said, this is the first polish I've tried from the Revlon Colourstay Gel Envy line, and I'm massively impressed, I definitely want to try more!
What are you loving on your nails right now?
I'm not doing a gift guide series on my main blog this year, partly because I think there are enough out there already, and partly because I have no idea what to get anyone myself right now. I was doing a little reading the other night and I realised that whilst there are a lot of beauty stocking filler ideas out there, there aren't any more general stocking filler guides. So I thought, to get us in the festive mood, I'd share my perfect Christmas stocking, in the hope that it will give you some ideas, for others or maybe for your list!
A yard of Jaffa Cakes: Start as we mean to go on. Pretty much every year Father Christmas pops one of these in my stocking, which is good because as anyone who knows me well (Joanna) will tell you I'm obsessed with Jaffa Cakes. I have a feeling this won't make it into my stocking this year, since we're away for Christmas, not sure this is TSA friendly!
A sleep mask: I know this is kinda weird, and sleep masks are kinda a love/hate thing, but I love them. I'm travelling a lot at the moment, and my sleep schedule is kinda backwards, I'm normally sleeping while the suns up, so it's handy to have something to block out the eyes. I have a sleep mask but it's on it's last legs, and it's made of satin, which isn't the most comfortable, so I'm after something a little softer!
Beauty bits I get through fast: This is a little something my mum always does, she sneaks in a few of the products I repurchase three or four times a year. When I was fifteen it was Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse and Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara, these days it's Soap and Glory Archery brow pencil (the one with the spoolie, not the pen), Bourjois Volume One Second Mascara, & L'Oreal Stylo Lumi Concealer. Very handy.
Socks: Am I the only person in the world who LOVES getting socks for Christmas? I'm convinced there's a sock demon in my flat who eats the last slice of cake and steals my socks. Where do they go?!
A Lush bathbomb: I've cut back on the amount of these I buy, it works out pretty expensive per bath! I like to treat myself occasionally though, and hell, it's Christmas!
Teeny tiny notebooks: I'm literally stationery obsessed, I love having little paperback notebooks to keep in my handbag, for writing notes, but I've also gotten hooked on turning them into mini scrapbooks of special events, one for my trip to New York, one for LA, one for the boyfriend's birthday weekend, stuff like that. It's fun and less pressure than a massive scrapbook.
A Starbucks Christmas mug: Need I explain this one? I like coffee. I like Christmas. I like Instagrammable mugs. You get the idea.
Stickers: Because I'm basically five. I've gotten really into decorating my planner & scrapbooking this year, and you can never have too many cute stickers. I've got my eye on these.
What would you like to find in your stocking this year?
'tis the season of the bold lip, and whilst I'm practically terrified of anything brighter than a muted pink, I figured I should at least try to get into the spirit of things. In the interest of dedicating myself to the cause, I've managed to find three lipsticks that even I can wear, that don't wash me out, make me look like a kid playing with someones makeup, or make me look like a clown. Basically, the bold lip options for bold lip noobs like me.
The Red: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella. A gorgeous red that sits just on the darker side of pillarbox, making it a little less in your face. The formula of these is great, matte but not drying and super long lasting, and I find the pencil shape more precise with bold colour than your average lipstick. This is a total winner for me.
The Berry: Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in 107. A gorgeous, plummy berry tone with just enough pink to it to not be terrifying. I never thought I could pull a shade like this off, but I have to say, I'm a fan of this, it makes me feel like a REAL LIVE GROWN UP, it's cheap as chips and even my boyfriend's a fan of the shade. That's how you know it's a good'un.
The Pink: MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in All Fired Up. An absolutely terrifying blue toned pink that I would have been too terrified to buy myself, but looks absolutely rockin' on the lips. This was a gift from the lovely Alexandra, and I swear it's one of the prettiest lipsticks I own. Yes I'm scared of it, but it looks damn good on, if I do say so myself.
Are you a bold lip kinda gal, or a nudist at heart?
Ever since Sephora started shipping to the UK this year, there's always been something in my online basket. Unfortunately, due to the high threshold for shipping I'm not in the habit of ordering regularly, but I have no problem deciding what to get when I do! This is what's residing in my basket currently (god praise the Christmas gift set!).
Sephora Collection VIB Pass Eyeshadow Palette: How is this only ten dollars, HOW?! I love how small and sleek the packaging of this is, it's got four matte and four shimmer shades, four are warm toned and four are cool. I love the versatility of this, and I've always been impressed with the quality of the Sephora own brand shadows! Definitely want to get my paws on this!
Too Faced Under The Mistletoe: I've been umming and ahhing over the Too Faced La Creme lipsticks for a while now, and this set contains three shades and a pretty sparkly makeup bag for a mere $28, so it seems like a good way to try them! Especially since they are £18 a piece here! All the shades are ones I'd wear, and I've heard really good things about them.
The System Formula X: If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know that I'm obsessed with the Formula X Topcoat, and soon I'll be needing a new one. This set is such good value, you get the cleanser, topcoat and base coat, plus a colour of your choice! I'd probably go with the shade A+ (a pretty berry pink), Enigma (a sage grey) or Continuum (sky blue). A great way to try more from the brand!
Josie Maran Winter Dreams Argan Skincare Collection: I'm sure Sephora is queen of the beauty gift sets! I've tried a few bits from the Josie Maran makeup line, and I've wanted to try the skincare for a while now. This set contains six travel sized items from the line, and seems like such a good way to try things out!
Bite Beauty Mix and Mini Lip Singles: How freaking adorable is this?! I love the idea of using this as a stocking stuffer, or an extra treat hanging on the tree! In my basket is the Lush Fruit Lipgloss in Guava, the lipglosses are the only thing I haven't tried from Bite, and I've loved everything else I've tried so I have high hopes! This shade looks like a pretty, neutral, everyday shade, my favourite!
Sephora Collection Mini Complexion Multitasker Brush: I've always been really impressed with the quality of Sephora's brushes, they're so soft and easy to wash, and they apply product like a dream. This looks like it would be a really good all rounder, good for foundation, concealer and powder, a good one to travel with or have in your handbag for touch ups!
What's on your Sephora wishlist?
You should all know by now that anything with the word 'cosy' in, I'm all for. If I could waste away my time cosied up in bed with Netflix and tea, nine times out of ten I would. I'm all about winter and snuggly jumpers and blankets, rainy afternoons and building forts. So when I found out that my My Little Box this month was Cosy themed, I let out a little squeal of excitement, and anxiously checked the post on a near hourly basis.
I've never ordered a Birchbox before, because I've never been that impressed with the contents, It always just seemed like lots of samples that I'd probably never use. After seeing a few pictures on Instagram this month, being impressed and realising that it was Cosy themed too, I decided to bite the bullet and order one, and even found a £5 off code. I figured this was a good opportunity to compare the two, and the approach to the Cosy box!
I'll start with Birchbox since it's the first one I've tried! The box was smaller than I expected, and actually a little flimsy too, I can't imagine being able to re-use it for too long without it breaking, but it's compact and it does the job. There was a ton of leaflets and postcards inside, I quite liked the postcards actually (and the pyjama one made it's way on to my pinboard), and there was a lot of information on the products inside. All the products come in a little drawstring bag which I can imagine would come in handy despite it's slightly odd shape.
On to the products! Birchbox only promise one full size product but I somehow ended up with three, which I was super pleased about. I got five beauty items and one lifestyle, which I believe is pretty standard month on month.
Dr. Jart + Pore Refine Recover Primer - £18. This is the item I was most excited to see in the box, it's a generous 30ml size, and I love the pastel packaging. I'd previously never tried anything from Dr Jart, but I'm really impressed with this. Less than a full pump covers and smooths my whole face before makeup, it creates a really even base and helps disguise pores too. The box was worth it for me for this product alone, massive thumbs up.
Révérence de Bastien Nail Polish - £16. I'm always interested to try out different nail polish brands, but I found the inclusion of a summery pink shade a little odd in a 'cosy' themed box. Maybe a darker shade would be more appropriate? It's a nice enough shade anyway, and the formula is good, nothing spectacular, probably not worth £16 but I'll definitely get a lot of use out of this.
Beauty Protector Protect & Treat Hair Mask - £16 for full size. It's always handy to have a few hair masks around, these tiny little pots are enough for one application each on hair my length, I'll probably save one of these to take on holiday with me, it's a good little travel size. I haven't tried this yet but it smells nice, and I imagine the pots will be handy to reuse after.
Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Ripe Raspberry - £8. Another full size product! These had been on my radar for a while but I really didn't need to shell out £8 for another lip balm so I restrained. I was really pleased to find this in the box though, it's nice and soft & hydrating on the lips, and the colours a pretty pink that's buildable to be quite bold. A nice handbag product for the winter.
Lord & Berry Mini Bronzer in Sienna - £19 for full size. I've heard a lot about Lord & Berry but I've never tried anything from the brand. This is a nice matte bronzer that blends out really easy, I actually think it looks really natural on the skin and I'm quite impressed. It's kind of a shame about the packaging though, you're not going to be able to take it anywhere unless you have a z-palette!
Drinkwel Vegetarian Capsules - £39.99. I really am not a fan of the inclusion of supplements in beauty boxes, but the rest of this box was so good I'll forgive it. You only get six in here and you're supposed to take 3 a day, so you aren't going to get a good trial out of this pack. I already take the vitamins I know my body needs so I'm just wholly disinterested to be honest. I feel like it's kind of a cop out to include these as a 'lifestyle item', just doesn't feel like much thought went into that.
Overall I'm massively pleased with this box. I don't really think any of the products inside represent the 'cosy' theme very well, it sort of just feels like a random selection of products and I think they do cut corners with the quality of the box. But, for £12.95 including delivery I definitely think it was worth it, I'll use all of these beauty products! Unfortunately, I don't think Birchbox are particularly consistent month to month, and whilst this was a great box, I've seen a lot of crappy ones in previous months, and that's put me off subscribing. I'd rather order the odd box here and there should I like the look of one.
My Little Box comes in a touch more expensive than Birchbox at £14.95 including delivery, but I personally think it's worth it. I do feel like this box has had a lot more thought and care put into it, it feels like a specially curated little gift every time it arrives! It's worth noting that the quality of the box & drawstring bag is better, and the drawstring bag is a better shape for re-using. I love the attention to detail with these boxes, the continuity of the theme, the illustrated boxes and the little illustrated postcard, and the ribbon to tie it all together. It just feels like they've put a lot of thought and effort into the making of it. I also love the little magazine in the box, it's got a nice selection of interviews, makeup tips, recipes, and totally pinnable images. It's a nice touch.
My Little Box put more emphasis on the lifestyle side, and in this box I got two lifestyle items and three beauty. I think that all the My Little Boxes sent out in England are pretty similar, you don't get as much box diversity as you do with Birchbox, but I quite like that, and I feel like the products would suit most people. All the beauty products are themed around 'the perfect smokey eye' which I think is quite a good idea, since I'm all about smokey eyes this time of year.
My Little Bouillotte Microwavable Pillow. This is hands down my favourite thing from both these boxes, and I can imagine a lot of people not being too fussed. This little pillow is the perfect size for resting on achey shoulders, popping on poorly tummies and it's even the perfect size for putting on my lower back when I'm driving (I always get a bad back when I drive!). It only needs 30 seconds in the microwave to heat up, and it doesn't smell like lavender like a lot of these pillows. I've had really bad period pain this week so I immediately warmed this up and set it to work, it's perfect!
Coffee Cup. The cutest little illustrated espresso cup. I'm looking forward to whipping up a gingerbread macchiato in this little guy.
Yves Rocher Intense Colour Eyeshadow in Coffee Brown - R.R.P. £13.20. I don't buy a whole lot of single eyeshadows because I rarely use just one shadow at a time, and I like to have everything in one place. I couldn't see this colour working for me on first glance, but it applies lighter than it looks, and actually looks great all over the lid, pared with a good inner corner highlight and lots of eyeliner. Very wintery and lovely. It blends well, not quite as easy as a shimmer shade, but it's not too taxing to get even, and there wasn't any fallout when I applied it which is rare!
Starliner Black Waterproof Eyeliner by Arancil - R.R.P. £5.50. Not the most exciting product but a good black liner is always handy. This was soft to apply, easy to blend and long lasting, I love the look of this smudged into the lash line over the Yves Rocher shadow. Smokey and wonderful.
My Little Beauty Volume and Care Mascara - R.R.P. £16. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting big things from this, I'm pretty hard to please on the mascara front, but I really like this. The brush is simple, the formula is nice, not too wet and not too dry, and it really coats all the lashes, creating volume and length. It wore well throughout the day, didn't flake or smudge, and the packaging is really cute. I actually really like this, I may even end up repurchasing it down the line.
I really like the combination of the three beauty products used together, it was a good idea! I really love receiving these boxes, it feels more like receiving a present from a friend than a random selection of samples!
Whilst I'm really pleased with the products I received in my Birchbox, My Little Box wins for me!
Which of these boxes do you like the look of more?
I thought I'd talk you through a few of the things I've been loving recently that aren't beauty products (shock horror). We've got some clothes, some tech bits, a drink and some bedding amongst other things, so have a watch and see what you think!
Be warned, my hair looks like a birds nest & I have a bit of a cold, be nice!
What have you been loving recently?
Whilst with most beauty brands I can usually find a mixed bag of products I love and hate, there are some brands that really knock it out of the park as far as I'm concerned. Brands that can do no wrong, where every product I try, I love. These are the brands I turn to first when I need a specific product, the brands I consistently recommend, and the brands I trust. I figured with the festive season of gift giving on the horizon, I'd tell you my most trusted brands, so you can figure out what to get the beauty lovers in your life (or add to your own list!).
NARS Cosmetics: Starting with the holy mother of all makeup here. I think I've mentioned before but if I had to pick just one brand forever, it'd be NARS. There's not a single product from them that I've found lackin' in any kinda way. The formulas are fantastic, the colour selections are rockin', and they do everything good, from bases to shadows, to blushes to lipsticks. I got to meet the International Lead Makeup Artist for the brand this year, and not only was she a total babe, her stories about the brand and it's history only made me love NARS more.
My Picks: Radiant Creamy Concealer, Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser, Cruella Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Daydream Blush, Deep Throat Blush, And God Created The Woman Palette.
Urban Decay: Has anyone else noticed that Urban Decay are just really rockin' it right now? With textures and pigments that are out of this world, the brand does bold and barely there really well. They have something for every one and every taste, and they have yet to let me down.
My Picks: Primer Potion, 24/7 Liner in Rockstar, Naked 2 Basics Palette, Revolution Lipstick in Naked and Streak, Naked Flushed Palette in Streak, Naked 1 Palette, Smoked Palette.
Bite Beauty: A recent discovery of mine, but damn this brand is awesome. The home for fantastic lip products, they've got all the colours, all the formulas, AND all their products are food grade, so they're basically GOOD FOR YOU. IT WOULD BE A CRIME NOT TO BUY THEM ALL.
My Picks: Luminous Creme Lipstick in Fig, High Intensity Lip Pencil in Mirage, Luminous Creme Lipstick in Rosé.
What brands do you trust?
Let's ignore my mascara here shall we? Definitely not a fan of the L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara.
My brows were something that received very little attention from me until a couple of years ago. Bar the occasional plucking of the odd outta line soldier with my trusty Tweezermans, I left my brows pretty much alone. When the whole 'becoming a makeup junkie' thing happened (an event almost as memorable as puberty), I eventually strayed into the brow product territory, and started to take a bit more interest in my brows.
Whilst im definitely lack in' in the butt department, I've got no shortage of brows. Whilst everyone else I knew throughout my teenage years plucked their brows into oblivion, me taking no interest in mine means that right now I've got some serious caterpillar brows going on. They always had the makings of a good pair, but they needed some taming.
I've tried waxing before, and whilst it was okay, it never gave me results any different to plucking. I needed something to harness them a little (and get that weird patch of brow hair that grows out towards my temple under control).
So after a bit of a Google sesh, I headed off to the Blink Brow Bar in the basement of Topshop's Oxford Circus Flagship. Now, an eyebrow shaping experience there is not the cheapest, but considering London prices, it's not too bad either.
Since this was my first threading experience, the lovely lady I was booked in with (whose name I didn't catch) talked me through everything first, I was a little nervous because I have the pain threshold of a gnat. The whole thing took about 15 minutes from start to finish. I like that they get you to stretch your own skin around your brow, the taughter the skin is the less it hurts and the easier it is for the hairs to be removed, and I liked that I felt in control a little! She really listened to what I wanted too, I'm always scared that I'll leave with four brow hairs left, but I got exactly what I wanted!
Now I'll be honest, it wasn't painless, it hurts a little more than plucking, mostly because several hairs are being removed at once. It's not quite as painful as waxing, but it's a longer process, and by the end I felt a little sore. A lot of eye watering was involved! The skin around my brows was seriously red for a good hour or so after, and it was a little tender, but the cooling lotion they applied after definitely helped!
And the result? My brows look incredible. The best they've ever looked. In the above photo, I haven't filled them in at all, look how good they look au natural! Despite the pain I think I'm now a Blink convert! It sounds like an odd way to describe it, but the lines of my brows are so clean now, they look so strong and perfect. Not to toot my own horn or anything.
Because I went to the Topshop bar, I was also able to redeem my student discount, so I got ten percent off. Also, they gave me a rewards card, and every sixth shaping is free, so score!
I think im now a threading convert! How do you keep your brows in check?
I know, I know, that's more pictures of my face than you wanted to see. Sorry about that.
It's been a while since I've shown you what I've been using in action, and there were a few products I wanted to show you guys!
I've been using the travel size of the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer, which I definitely prefer to the oil free version. This is super hydrating and really smooths out the skin for foundation. I've been switching between two or three bases for the last couple of months, but I thought I'd use the Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow here, a product I've had in my stash a long time, I often come back to it and remember how nice it is! I feel like bold lips can sometimes make dark circles look worse, so I went all out on the under eye concealer. I started with the Maybelline The Eraser, which really provides coverage, and then went in with the L'Oreal Stylo Lumi, to brighten. I also took the L'Oreal offering under my browbone to brighten that up too. Still a little dark but a marked improvement. I set it all with the Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot powder, since this foundation can get a little too glowy.
I then took The Body Shop's Honey Bronzer, under my cheekbones, around my temple and down my neck a little just to add in a bit of warmth, and give the illusion of cheekbones under all that pizza fat. I used my Gosh Natural Blush in Electric Pink, which as you can see, is far from electric, more muted and dusky, and perfect with a bold lip. I took a little of The Balm's Mary Lou Manizer along the tops of my cheekbones and under my brow bone, only a tiny amount, you could just see it when the light caught it.
Eyes are really what I want to show you here, because I used my beloved Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics Palette. I started with the Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer, to even out my lids, prevent creasing, and really make the colour pop. I then took the lightest shade from the palette, Skimp, all over the lid up to my brow bone and in the inner corners, before taking the shade Frisk across my lid to the crease. I took a tiny amount of Primal in the outer v, and blended a ton. A little winged liner with the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper, with the L'Oreal Super Liner Mat-Matic in my upper waterline, and lashings of the Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara. A tiny amount of the Soap and Glory Archery just to fill in any gaps in my lashes, and that's a job done! This is the eye look I've worn pretty much every day for the last two months and I absolutely love it, it goes with every lip colour in the world!
I'm still obsessed with the Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 107, and that's what I'm wearing here. It's such a pretty bold red with a hint of berry in there. I'm not much of a bold lip gal but I do love this. I use a little Lipcote to seal it in place and I'm done!
What makeup have you been wearing recently?
I'm not going to be doing a full Christmas gift guide this year, for two reasons, the first being that I don't know what to buy anyone in my life this year so I'm hardly a good source of information, and the second being that I feel like there's already enough gift guides out there. That being said, I thought I'd dedicate a few posts to talking about a couple of beauty gift sets that I think are top notch, and products I love that you should definitely be adding to your Christmas list.
To kick it all off, I wanted to talk about the Jouer Fete Fabulous Colour Collection. Jouer is a brand that I think is really underrated, probably because it's not the easiest to get a hold of, so it doesn't tend to be on many people's radar. I've tried a few Jouer products before and I've been impressed by all of them, no complaints at all, I think the brand is pretty awesome so I was keen to try more.
Whilst Jouer prices aren't up there with the likes of Tom Ford or Chanel, they're by no means a 'drugstore' brand, so this kit is an excellent way to try out a few things for a better price, and all the products included are full sized, rare for a Christmas set. The products in the kit bought separately would come to an eye watering £70, but this kit retails for £38, basically half price!
You get five different items in this kit, the colours are all fairly neutral, and I can see this suiting a wide range of skintones. The packaging of Jouer products is fantastic, sleek and sturdy, and it all clips together so you can create your own unique palette, perfect for travel! I've since clipped my other Jouer products onto these, to create one big block of Jouer!
So inside, first up you get the Sunswept Mattifying Bronzer, which I'll be honest, I didn't think would work for me because it looks pretty orange. Luckily, that doesn't transfer to the skin, I've been using a big fluffy brush to apply this under my cheekbones, and with a light hand and a little blending, it adds in the warmth that my skin really needs! You get 7g of product in here which I think is pretty generous, especially since the product is so pigmented, and it has a giant mirror in there too so it's handy for travel!
Also for the cheeks, we've got the Cheek Tint in Petal, which is described as a soft pink, but I think it leans slightly peachy. It's creamy and easy to blend, I like to just pat this into my cheeks with my fingers for a natural flush. Both this and the bronzer are really long lasting on the cheeks which is a plus! This also looks fantastic on the lips too, so a good one for travel, or touch ups on the go!
Also in the kit is the cutest little powder eyeshadow duo in the shades Creme and Espresso. Both are super soft and pigmented, Creme is a gorgeous matte vanilla shade, and Espresso is almost a smoky slate sort of colour. In the pan Espresso looks quite dark, but it actually makes a gorgeous all over the lid shade, with Creme under the browbone and in the inner corner. A gorgeous easy to use duo!
They also included a full size Creme Eyeshadow Crayon in Rococo, a pretty shimmery vanilla that is so easy to apply, I just apply it straight from the crayon and then blend it out with my finger, and it looks amazing!
And lastly, you get the Moisturising Lip Gloss in Mirage which is a really pretty berry pink shade. This is one of those glosses that is amazing for keeping in your handbag, it goes with every makeup look and it's easy to apply even without a mirror.
I'm really impressed with this set, I have literally nothing bad to say about it! I'm gonna get so much use out of all of these products! Definitely one to add to the Christmas list!
Have you tried anything from Jouer?
Today we aren't talking about the glamorous packaging, the YSL's and the Chanel's that make you feel like a proper fancy lady when you use it. We are talking about the stuff with really bloody practical packaging. The kind that's good for on the go in your handbag, or taking on a trip. If my mum wore a lot of makeup, this is the stuff she'd buy (sorry mum, if you're reading this...but you know it's true!).
I'll keep musings on the Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics brief, cause you all know I lurrrrve it. Product inside aside, the packaging of this is fantastic for travel. Sleek and compact, big old mirror, and it stays firmly shut. When I was back home I used this mirror to do all my makeup on the days I stayed at Con's, since he doesn't have a good makeup mirror in his room (oh the disappointment).
The Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer is a new discovery for me, but it's proved to be perfect for my handbag. Two concealers, one perfect for under eyes and one great for redness and blemishes, and a great setting powder, all in one compact little pot, with a mirror and a powder puff in there too. This has been so handy for on the go already, great little product!
The Avene Cold Cream Lip Balm definitely doesn't have particularly exciting packaging, but there's something to be said for appropriate simplicity, the squeezy tube is great because it's a lot more hygienic than a pot, it's easy to get the right amount of product, and the plastic is a lot more resilient than some lip balms, this won't be springing a leak in your handbag!
Personally when I'm buying a high-end base product, I like the packaging to look good, I want something that looks pretty on my dressing table! In the case of the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturer however, I'm willing to overlook it. The squeezy plastic tube is super travel friendly, it's light and it's not gonna smash in your bag.
And lastly, a mention for the Real Techniques Kabuki Brush, a good multipurpose brush in lightweight packaging with a lid too, keeping your brush super hygienic. This brush is great for all powder products, setting powders, blushes, bronzers, highlighters, so it's a handy one for travel. Not a fan of the pink though, admittedly.
What products do you love that have practical packaging?
I've fallen back in love with a makeup collection staple of mine recently, so much so, that I thought it deserved it's own post.
The Gosh Natural Blush in Electric Pink was the first blush I ever knew, back in the olden days where my entire makeup collection fit into one bag, and I was satisfied with having one of each product. This was the blush that made the cut, and I wore it pretty much everyday from when I was fourteen, until I started Uni. This is the second one I've owned, I used up the first one and I've hit pan on my second, and I still love it.
The strange thing is, I don't actually own, nor have I ever tried anything else from Gosh. I can't remember what drew me to this blush, or even to the Gosh stand in the first place. The packaging is decidedly unremarkable, and in fact, quite fragile, It's cheap too, They're currently £6.99 but I'm pretty sure I paid less back in the day.
But the blush is bloody brilliant! It's a matte pink in a dusky pink shade (despite being called Electric Pink), and whilst it's pigmented, it's not too pigmented, so you can't really go overboard with it, which I like since I tend to do that early in the morning. It blends really easily and it lasts all day too, so bonus.
If you're in the market for a daily staple blush, I'd definitely check this out, it's a good'un.
To Do: Walk my dog, explore new areas on foot, drink hot drinks in the park, have a roast dinner in the pub during a storm, build forts with my boyfriend, travel, take photos of the little things in life, tidy my desk, create photo albums and memory books, visit the Natural History Museum, go to Selfridges and Liberty's first thing on a Monday morning when it's quiet, stay in bed all day with a good book, take long bubble baths and watch TV, sit in Holland Park and watch the world go by.
On TV: Scandal, White Collar, Suits, Mistresses, Pretty Little Liars, Once Upon a Time, American Horror Story, The Mindy Project, Parks & Recreation, Orange is the New Black, Revenge, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, How To Get Away With Murder.
To Eat: Double ham and garlic butter pizza, guacamole, nachos, watermelon, cucumber maki rolls, cinnamon pretzels, Starbucks Berry Hibiscus Refreshas, green seedless grapes, lemon and poppyseed muffins, bacon sandwiches, pancakes with maple syrup, Jameson and coke, strawberry Winders, asparagus wrapped in bacon.
To Wear: Black skinny jeans, chunky heeled boots, giant blanket scarves, pleather skirts, oversized white tees, patterned monochrome leggings, skater dresses, chunky knits, band tees, statement necklaces & my new coat.
To Shop: Selfridges, Zara, Bershka, H&M, Tiger, Space NK, Paperchase, Liberty, French Connection, Mango, Whistles, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear, Lush, Sephora, American Eagle, Monki.
With the festive season approaching, my funds are going towards Christmas gifts for my loved ones, and not on myself (a travesty, I know). Because of that, my wishlist is growing at a rapid rate of knots. It's been a while since I've shared a wishlist with you guys, so here goes!
Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Bag: It's a makeup bag, it's rose gold, it's gorgeous. I've seen this in person, it's such a gorgeous size, perfect for long weekends, and handbag essentials. I've wanted a Charlotte Tilbury makeup bag for a long time now, and I'm glad I held out because I love this Christmas one 1000x more than the originals!
NARS Modern Future Lip Cheek and Nails Set: You guys know that NARS is my favourite makeup brand, so a gift set that gives me three products? I'm in.I've swatched the lipstick a couple of times and it's not as scary as it looks, it's slightly sheer so combined with my natural lip colour, creates a gorgeous bright pink.
Diptyque Epice Candle: I know Diptyque candles are expensive, but they last so long and the scent kick off is unparalleled, even when it's not lit, so to me they're so worth it. I'm on the last legs of my Christmas Diptyque candle from last year, and this year I've fallen head over heels for the Epice candle, a gorgeous warm, spicy, musky scent that I can't get enough of. I'll have six.
Zara Scarf: I'm pretty sure my obsession with Zara scarves has now reached fetish level, I can't get enough of them. Big blanket scarves to keep me toasty and warm! Between now and May my wardrobe will be 100% black, and all my scarves are, so I've had my eye on this one since it fits my monochrome theme, but is more white! Also, I've tried this scarf on a few times and it's so soft and cosy.
Diptyque Eau Duelle Eau de Toilette: I've been obsessing over this fragrance for months now, it's time I owned it. A gorgeous warm, spicy vanilla scent, my favourite! I've just used up my Giorgio Armani Si, so I have a scent slot to fill!
Topshop Layered Sweater: I'm obsessed with big cosy sweaters right now, paired with skinny jeans and blanket scarves, that's basically all I wear. I tried this sweater on the other day, and I love how the sleeves are nice and long and fitted, but the body is big & loose, it's really flattering on! It's got two tones to it as well, which makes it a bit different to a plain sweater!
Ash Jalouse Boots: I've been umming and ahhing over whether to buy these bad boys for well over a year now. I pretty much live in boots year round, so I've been looking at investing in a good quality pair to last me for a while. These are incredibly comfortable, and look good with everything from jeans to dresses.
Lush Luxury Christmas Pud: I'm all about a festive bubble bath or five, and this is the only bath bomb from the Lush Christmas range I haven't tried. It smells deliciously of lavender, makes your bath a multicoloured festive explosion, and doesn't it look good! I imagine this would be a great one for Christmas eve!
Zara Printed Sweater: Keeping with my strictly casual wardrobe theme, I've been looking for a printed or slogan sweater for a while now, and I love this Zara number. I love the print but I also love that it isn't too thick, perfect for layering!
What's on your wishlist right now?
So...I fell into Boots. We won't dwell on it. It happens. I somehow left feeling like an extreme couponer, when my receipt told me it all shoulda cost £48.94, and it came to £22.03. Result!
I actually went into Boots for a serum, my skins been extra dry and dull looking, so I wanted something to perk it up. I'm totally obsessed with the Boots Botanics Brightening line right now, so when I realised all of their products were half price, I decided to give the Brightening Serum a whirl. So far so good, this absorbs really quickly into the skin, gives it a boost of moisture and leaves your skin feeling really smooth. I also couldn't resist picking up the all Bright Radiance Balm too, which I've been applying before primer, to get rid of any redness in my skin and make it look brighter, and I quite like it! I'll let you know how I feel about these in a few weeks time, but so far I'm pleased, and both were on sale for under £3 each!
Since Boots were running their 3 for 2 across all makeup I figured I'd better take advantage. I wanted to try the new Essie Summit of Style polish from their Luxe Effects line, and I managed to snag the last one. It's a beautiful bronzey, rosey gold glitter that I am now totally obsessed with. It's got chunky and tiny glitter, perfect for the festive season.
I was in the market for a new concealer so I finally picked up the Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer, something that's been on my hit list for ages. I was a little concerned about the shade for this, Light looks pretty dark, but blended out it works well. Not the most high coverage concealer out there, but it's good, and this little kit is proving to be a good handbag product.
And lastly, I finally bit the bullet and picked up the Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush, another thing I've been meaning to buy for ages. This is another product that is perfect for on the go, it's fantastic for setting powders, blushes, bronzers and highlights. It's super soft and fluffy, easy to wash and the lid is super handy.
Have you bought anything from Boots recently?
I hated coffee until I started Uni, when I had to learn to like it to survive. It's still not my favourite taste on it's own, but I've gotten into flavoured coffee's and lattes (cough cough, white chocolate mochas, cough), and when Starbucks bring out their gingerbread lattes I get a little giddy. Unfortunately, Starbucks is an expensive habit, so I decided to look for an alternative to have at home. Also, I'm allergic to dairy, and twice in the last month Starbucks didn't listen when I asked for soy milk, and I've ended up having an allergic reaction. Not ideal.
Aside from the caffeine factor, there's something really comforting about curling up with a festive
So there are literally three ingredients. I use the Nescafé Alta Rica Coffee cause it's really really strong, and I just make this up with about a spoonful of coffee and half a cup of water. Two teaspoons of Gingerbread finish added in, and then I use the Vive Soy Vanilla Soy milk, which in coffee, doesn't taste like soy milk at all, even my boyfriend will drink it. It's got a hint of vanilla but it's not overpowering, it's really good on cereal to! I heat this up and then fill up the cup! Super straightforward, easy peasy gingerbread latte!
I've worked out that this is about 40 calories, much less than a Starbucks coffee!
Now I just need a festive mug to drink it out of!
It's been a while now since the first pencil-style lip products started popping up left right and centre. I think the first ones were the Clinique Chubby Sticks (which, incidentally, I don't like), and from there I think most brands have them now. I've tried a fair few, and I've whittled it down to a short list of my pick of the bunch, so you don't have to try them all.
Clinique Chubby Stick Intense: I might not have been a fan of the original chubby sticks (too sheer & drying), but these I can get on board with. Good creamy colour pay off, easy to apply and a good selection of nudes. Pricey, but worth it. Try - Curviest Caramel.
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils: My personal favourite, these just tick all the boxes. Awesome shade range, gorgeous matte finish but not at all drying, and incredibly long lasting. Winners all round. Try - Cruella & Dolce Vita.
NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils: My one-true-pencil love's sister. I love how natural these look on the lips, they have a glossy finish but they aren't sticky or wet on the lips, and they still last really well. Try - Rikugien & New Lover.
Soap and Glory Sexy Motherpucker Gloss Sticks: A recent find that I've gotten totally hooked on. These are more like glosses in pencil form than lipsticks, they impart a sheer, almost jelly textured layer of colour, that makes your lips look gorgeous and glossy. I love these for on the go. Try - Plum Jam & Nudist.
Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms: Similar to the NARS Matte offerings, but not as long lasting. A good drugstore alternative though. Shade range is a little suspect. Try - Standout & Elusive.
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains: If barely - there colour is more your thang, you'll want to try these. They impart the colour pay off of a tinted balm (with no hydration whatsoever, FYI), and are incredibly easy to apply without a mirror. Good for chucking on when you've done a smokey eye and you don't know what to pair it with. Try - Honey.
Bourjois Colour Boost Lacquer Balms: Super glossy, buildable pigmentation, and a good colour range. Don't be put off by the bold shades, they translate beautifully. One of my favourites from the drugstore, but they're often overlooked. Try - Orange Punch, Red Sunrise & Plum Russian.
Sephora Collection Glossy Lip Pencil: Similar to the Soap and Glory offering but with more shimmer. These again are more like lip glosses, but on the lips they aren't sticky and hang around well throughout the day. Try - Glossy Orange.
What are your favourite lip crayons?
When it comes to hairdryers, I'm pretty loyal, I've had my trusty Revlon hair dryer since I was thirteen, and it's probably on it's last legs now, but it's served me well. Recently I was given the chance to try something from the new Vidal Sassoon Infra Radiance range, and I decided my seven year old Revlon dryer needed an upgrade.
I've been using the Vidal Sassoon Infra Radiance Diffuser Dryer* for about a month now, and I didn't know I could be so impressed by a hairdryer.
A little bit of info on the dryer itself, it uses new infra radiance technology, which in essence means it's kinder to your hair than your standard styling tools. It distributes the heat more evenly on the hair, preventing heat spots, which not only means less damage to your hair, it also helps maintain moisture, lock in shine and reduce frizz. These are all pretty bold claims, but I'm seeing the difference already, my hair feels smoother, softer, and looks shinier and healthier.
It's got two heat settings, two strength settings and the obligatory cool shot button. This is less than my previous hair dryer, but I don't feel like I'm lacking anything, I've been using the cooler of the two settings on the strongest power, and I can fully dry my hair within six or seven minutes, which is UNHEARD OF, for someone with hair as thick as mine. I can give myself a proper blowout in under fifteen minutes too, and I've been doing it a lot more because it's so easy.
It also comes with a diffuser head and a concentrator head, to help with styling. I don't use these on a daily basis, but if I want curls I clip on the diffuser and if I'm going for a blowout I use the concentrator. On a day to day basis though, it's great on it's own!
All in all, I'm really impressed, and I've actually been enjoying blow drying my hair more now that it's so much easier! Even my boyfriend likes it because 'it looks like a ray gun'. Something for everyone I guess!
You can buy one yourself here or check out Vidal Sassoon's other products here (I can also vouch for their curlers!).
What tools do you use to style your hair?
*This hair dryer was gifted to me for consideration for review, all the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own, I freaking love this hair dryer!
- Colder days. Do you know how long I've been waiting for colder days for? I am not a summer person, I hate wasps and heat and sweat and ice cream, I like crispy leaves and chilly breezes and hot apple cider and blankets. FINALLY this week the temperature has dropped below 10 degrees (no mean feat since it was 24 degrees on Halloween in London). I'm too excited.
- Impromptu FaceTime seshes with my mama. I miss my family (and my puppies) so much right now, and it's nice to have an hour or so chatting to my mum in the middle of the day whilst I'm working.
- Good blogging friends. I saw the wonderful Tami again this week and this girl is like my spirit animal. We can just chat for hours and hours about anything and everything, and I always feel so good after seeing her!
- Berry lips. This is a big one, because I'm normally TERRIFIED of berry lips, but right now I'm loving them. They feel so autumnal and cosy and wonderful. Can a lipstick feel cosy?
- Terry's Toffee Crunch Chocolate Oranges. The ultimate desk companion.
- Bubble baths. The ultimate stress cure.
- My slow cooker. I've got a dissertation to write, a magazine to create and a blog to run, I don't have time for cooking. Thanks to my slow cooker, this week we've had pulled pork, chicken and sweet potato casserole, chilli and meatballs. Dee-lish.
- Being able to see my parents regularly. Partly because I miss them, and partly because when I leave my phone charger at home, I get it back in under a week.
Achieving the perfect smokey eye is no mean feat, I've lost track of how many evenings I've lost half an hour trying to create some kind of even smokey eye look. And with party season approaching, it's only going to get worse, but having the right tools can make a massive difference.
The Prep
- Make your life easier by applying a good eye primer with coverage all over your lid, right up to your brow bone. Not only will this create a good, even canvas for colour to go on, it'll make your shadows easier to blend and the colours really pop. I love the Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer for this, but you can use anything with coverage.
- Make sure any pencils you're going to use are sharp. I can't begin to explain the difference this makes, and how much easier it makes it!
The Tools
- A good brush for packing shadow on is essential, I particularly like the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease brush, because it's great for putting shadow all over the lid, and the tapered end is good for putting product directly in the crease too.
- A good blending brush takes all the hard work out of smokey eyes, blending is 99% of a good smokey eye, and a good brush will blend the product out seamlessly. I'm a big fan of the MAC 217 but THIS brush is identical and a third of the price.
- Giving your lashes a few pumps with a decent set of lash curlers is like the ultimate easy way to give your smokey eye a bit more oomph. Lifting those lashes means that once you've put mascara on them, they'll look bigger & better. I wouldn't be without my Shu Umera Lash Curlers!
The Finishing Touches
- I'm a big believer that liner makes all the difference, and can really take a look to the next level. Adding a flick of jet black liquid liner really defines the eyes, whilst a smudge of kohl on the tightline can make your lashes look longer and thicker. My favourite duo is the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, and the L'Oreal Super Liner Mat-Matic.
- When I'm done with shadow and liner, I like to take a little of The Balm's Mary Lou Manizer Highlighter on my finger, and dab it on the inner corners of my eyes, and on my browbone. It really lifts and lightens the look, and makes the dark shades pop that bit more.
What are your smokey eye essentials?
Sometimes, first impressions don't last, and after using a product for a while, your thoughts on them change completely. This happens to me a fair bit, so today I'm sharing a few products that I was wrong about.
I've had the Origins Ginzing Eye Cream for a while now, and when I first got it, I couldn't understand the hype, it was okay, but definitely not worth the hefty price tag. Now, however, I don't go a day without it, the iridescence really brightens up my undereyes and makes a massive difference to my morning makeup routine. It's not the most hydrating eye cream, but I can forgive it that, and reach for something thicker in the evenings.
When I first picked up the Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara I was decidedly unimpressed. it was just a bit...meh. It didn't give much length, volume or lift, and I couldn't understand why so many people love it. I left it, and came back to it a month later, a totally different story. I think once it had dried out a little, it just got more effective. It's still not the best mascara out there, but it gives a nice long, doll-eyed effect. A nice option for everyday. A similar story with the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara, except this stuff becomes THE BOMB after a couple of weeks. Long, fluttery, volumised lashes, and the formula doesn't feel heavy and cakey on the lashes. Good stuff.
I bought the Rimmel Kate Moss 107 Lipstick because literally EVERYONE loves it, and when I first got it, I hated it. Now, I'm a bit more open to vampy lip shades, and every now and then I'll crack this one out and like it. It's never gonna be a daily staple, but it's a nice shade and when I'm in the mood for a bold lip, it's a good'un.
And lastly, a little mention to the Benefit Watts Up Highlighter. When I first got it, I hated it. I didn't like how heavy, and glittery this looked on, and how it emphasised my pores, and don't even get me started on the sponge end. Since then, I've figured out that if you take a little of the product on the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, and then use that to blend it along the cheekbones, it looks a lot more natural, and gives just a light glow to the skin. I love this in the Summer especially, it looks fab over cream blushes. Still hate the sponge. Some things don't change.
Have you got any products you changed your mind on?
Right now I'm spending most of my time either at Uni, in the library or sat at my desk, so right now, all my thoughts revolve around work. So today, I'm showing you all the essentials I'm lugging around between my working destinations.
Obviously there's the general stuff like my iPad and a notepad, I take most of my notes on my iPad mini, but I like to have a notebook on hand just in case. I've got my reading glasses and also some eye drops, because after approximately three seconds of concentrating, I end up with a headache and dry, itchy eyes.
Makeup isn't a top priority, but I tend to bite my lips when I'm stressed, so I like to carry a decent lip balm with me. I really love the Avene Cold Cream Lip Balm, which is thick and mosturising, comes in a convenient tube and absorbs really fast. This stuff is awesome, I wouldn't be without it.
I don't go anywhere right now without the Vanilla Berry Sorbet Hand Sanitizer from Bath and Bodyworks, it smells amazing and it works wonders, especially when you spend half your time on the tube, and generally just in dirty horrible London.
My portable phone charger is a life saver too, it holds a full charge for my iPad or two for my iPhone, and I use it on a near daily basis, because I'm addicted to Instagram.
And a Crunchy Nature Valley Bar... because I'm always hungry.
What's in your bag for work?
There's the world's least snappy title right there. Sorry about that. ANYWAY. Today the beauty topic of discussion is autumn lipsticks, in particular the kind that aren't bold. I've noticed that a lot of bloggers have uploaded 'autumn lipstick' posts, and they're all scary bold colours, and vampy shades. Well, I'm terrified of those colours, and I'm sure I'm not alone, so if you're like me and purple lips aren't your thang, keep reading.
Let's start with a fairly obvious pick, MAC Lustre Lipstick in Plumful. A pretty plum berry shade, but the lustre finish means it's fairly sheer, more of a pink with a hint of berry. Super comfortable even on dry lips, and really easy to wear, even with dramatic eye makeup. A good autumnal staple.
Moving on to my favourite autumn nude, the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked. A brown toned nude which is just warm enough and peachy enough to not wash out my ghostly complexion. The formula of these is just the best, rich and creamy pigmented, not matte but not glossy either. An all round winner for everyday.
A glossy option for any of you gloss lovers out there, the Buxom Full Bodied Lip Gloss in Sha-Bang, a bright pink with purple undertones and a hint of shimmer. This stuff applies slightly sheer on the lips, but definitely imparts a punch of berry, whilst making your lips look bigger than they are. I like this on it's own, but it also looks great layered over Plumful.
My current favourite everyday shade, the Soap and Glory Super-Colour Fabu Lipstick in The Missing Pink. A pretty dusky pink, my lips but just a bit cooler, this stuff gives a non-drying matte finish, and lasts all day. I'm totally in love with this right now.
And lastly, a bit of an unusual shade, the Mac Amplified Lipstick in Brick-O-La. A mid-toned berry shade with definite terracotta undertones, this just looks a little different on the lips. Berry with a little somthing-something. I like.
What lipsticks are you loving for autumn?
Every now and then you've just got to go shopping. So when Tami messaged me saying she was going to be in London and did I fancy touring all the Christmas halls on Oxford Street with her, I was all for it. It's never too early to get festive, is it?
I was moderately restrained (I know, woah) and even managed not to buy any makeup (cough cough, Tami bought six lipsticks, cough), and most of the things I bought had a festive theme, so I thought I'd spread the Christmas cheer early, and show you what I got.
First up, the only beauty-related thing I got, I finally got my hands on the Lush Northern Lights Bath Bomb, which has been sold out literally EVERYWHERE. The scent isn't my favourite but have you seen what it does to your bath?! Excited to try this out this week!
After that, a pilgramage to the Tottenham Court Road Paperchase was a must, since Tami had never been and that place is like STATIONERY MECCA. I was very restrained and only picked up these adorable festive robin stickers to go in my Erin Condren Life Planner, because who can resist a glittery robin wearing a festive hat. Not me, that's who. I did manage not to buy seventy notebooks, but my receipt had a voucher for five pound off a £20 spend so that might happen soon.
We then accidentally on purpose fell into Tiger, where I proceeded to buy ALL THE FESTIVE STATIONERY. We've got post it notes with mummy and baby polar bears and penguins. They were a pound, how was I supposed to leave them behind?! I also bought festive washi tape. Because reasons. All of this is going in the Erin Condren, because to do lists are much nicer when they're festive, right?
Also from Tiger, I picked up two teeny tiny, itsy bitsy, festive candle holders. I feel like these make the room feel a bit more christmassy, but they could still be used year round and not look like I forgot to put them away. Also they were a pound each, so I couldn't really leave them, could I?
And lastly, a few festive additions from the Hell that is Primark on Oxford street, on a Friday evening. Just no, don't go if you can help it. I finally found the perfect festive bedding that combines the three most important factors - 1, it's festive, 2, it's brushed cotton, and 3, it's neutral enough that the boyfriend won't reject it. I want to put this on the bed right now, but The Boy says I have to wait until at least the second half of November. Boring.
Also from Primark, bargain festive fairy lights, to put on the TV stand in our living room, or possibly over our headboard. £1.50, you can't really go wrong can you? Also in the queue (AKA AISLE OF DEATH, where I usually buy ten packs of sweets and more socks than I could wear in a year), I found this little set of fairisle false nails, that I thought, for a pound, I might as well try out. They actually look like a good size, and they were quite cute. I'll report back on my Beauty Blog how they are!
Okay, be honest, is it too soon to be this festive?
I've been hoarding my trash for the last two months so you can look through it. Don't say I never spoil you.
And a moment of appreciation for the Ariel bag please. Isn't it a beaut.
What have you used up recently, and what will you be repurchasing?
I talk a lot about new products, favourites and rediscoveries on this little corner of the internet, but sometimes, there are a few hard working products that don’t get the recognition they deserve. Products I use on a near daily basis that really hit the mark, but get forgotten because they’re just part of the routine. Well, I think it’s about time these products get their due, don’t you?
Let’s start with the most hard working of the bunch, the Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 001. Since I’m the palest of the pale skinned gals (read: often mistaken for Caspar’s unfriendly sister), bronzer is something that until the last couple of years, I was terrified of. Terrifying visions of Oompa Loompa face hit me every time I picked up a bronzer, so I generally steered clear. However, this gorgeous honeycomb bronzer from The Body Shop changed all of that for me. It’s ashy toned so there’s no fear of orange cheeks here, and it’s really light so it’s pretty foolproof. In fact, I generally apply this by covering the Dior Backstage Professional Finish Powder Brush in product, and hitting under my cheekbones with it, it’s so hard to go overboard even when you use a ton of product. It actually gives the illusion that I have actual cheekbones, when we all know that my face is 99% pizza fat. The Dior brush is definitely a pricey addition but the way it distributes and blends bronzer really makes it worth the splurge.
I don’t think I’ve gone a day without a little black liner in my tight line since I was about fifteen, I’m a big believer that it really makes your lashes look much thicker and fuller. Ever since I discovered the L’Oreal Super Liner Mat-Matic, I’ve actually gotten rid of all my other black liners, it’s THAT good. I’ve never had an eyeliner that can stay put on the waterline before, even the Urban Decay liners don’t last that well on me! It just makes such a difference to an eye look, I feel incomplete without it!
Okay, bold statement coming up, are you ready? I could get rid of every lip product and just keep the Dior Lip Glow Balm. I know, that’s a big commitment, but this stuff is just that good. It goes with every makeup look you could imagine, it’s hydrating, it’s easy to apply without a mirror, and it just makes your lips look better. I don’t really know how it works so well, but it does.
I always used to be awful at moisturising in the morning, but I’ve gotten much better since discovering the Boots Botanics Hydrating Day Cream All Bright. I actually prefer this to my previous love, the Origins Ginzing, it’s more hydrating and it absorbs super fast. It makes a really smooth base for makeup, as well as brightening up the complexion enough to make it look like I’ve experienced a good nights sleep (which we all know I haven’t because I was probably watching Scandal tip 4am).
And the last mention goes to a new dry shampoo discovery, the Co Lab Dry Shampoo in New York. This stuff just ticks all the boxes for me, since I’m eternally lazy and hate washing my hair, and I like to use dry shampoo to style my hair too, this doesn’t leave a white cast, it smells incredible, and it gives my hair the boost of volume and texture it needs. I just like that this stuff actually makes my hair feel clean, even on the second (or third…or fourth) day after washing. It’s got a really reasonable price tag, and I’ve got a miniature version for my handbag too! Pretty sure you’ll be spotting that in my November favourites!
Do you have beauty products that you love so much you forget about? Or is it just me!
Sometimes, you just don't have time to faff about with brushes, and you want products you can reach for and apply easily with nothing but your bare hands. Normally, that's just every Monday for me. I've developed a pretty foolproof repertoire for these days, with products that I think work best with just fingers.
For base, I'm all about the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation, which I think looks equally as good applied with fingers as it does a brush. This stuff just blends really nicely, and can be built up in different areas for extra coverage. It's good stuff, and everyone needs a bottle of this to hand.
A product that looks best when blended out with fingertips is the No7 Pop and Glow Blush in Soft Rose. I take this in a stripe along my cheek, and just blend it with my fingers. Soft pink cheeks that look naturally wind-bitten. Perfect.
I'm obsessed with highlighter at the moment, and rarely go a day without it, it just makes such a difference to my complexion. I like to take a blob of the Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand and tap it onto my cheekbones with my fingers. This is really pretty and it just looks super natural.
For eyes, I'm all about easy to apply cream shadows, and nothing epitomises that more than the Josie Maran Coconut Watercolour Eyeshadows, particularly the shade Playa Del Pink. I just dab a bit onto the center of my lids and blend out with fingers. Job done.
And lastly, a special mention to the Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 107. I'm pretty terrified of bold lips, so I like to take a little of this on my finger and press it into my lips, for a berry stain, rather than a bold look. I'm obsessed with this right now!
What are your favourite products to apply without tools?
- THE RED CUPS HAVE ARRIVED. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. This means nothing to me because I don't actually like any of Starbucks' festive drinks, but it DOES mean that Christmas is on the approach. And that you're gonna see a lot of these on your Instagram feed for the next two months.
- I BOUGHT A HAT. This is a major development because I normally look like a prize
knobidiot in a hat. Daphne made me do it and assured me I looked 'high fashion', so if I do look like a prizeknobidiot, blame her. Direct your hat hate this way. - MY BOYFRIEND GOT OLD. He is now 21 which horrifyingly means I am nearly 21. I am not happy about this development, and have tried bargaining with all higher powers to allow me to remain 20 indefinitely. So far no replies, but I'll keep you posted. (he had a nice birthday by the way)
- I MISS MY PUPPIES. Every time I go home, coming back to London is very hard. They don't smell fantastic, and they cover me in brown hair, and they try to nick my food, but they're really quite nice, and coming home to an empty flat isn't nice.
- I WENT ON A TWO WHEELED DEATH TRAP. AKA, a segway. It was horrific. I thought I was going to die, or at least face plant into a muddy puddle and ruin my new coat. I will not be trying it again. My boyfriend quite liked it though. He can go alone next time.
- OXFORD CIRCUS LOOKS PRETTY. Giant white balls are possibly the most boring Christmas decoration ever but they look really pretty. Also, see point one, Christmas is nigh.
- I DON'T THINK I LIKE LENA DUNHAM'S NEW BOOK. Controversial, I know, but I just can't get into it, I'm finding it a bit try hard, and a bit 'I swallowed a thesaurus'. I know, I know, you're all going to unfollow me now.
- I'M TRYING TO EAT HEALTHY. This means one out of my
fivethree meals a day is healthy. I'm trying, okay. - I DID A VLOG. You'll get to see that this weekend. It's not good. But you do get to see my pups.
I don't know about you, but sometimes, I just have those days where by about midday I look like I died. I'm not sure what that's about, because 99% of the time my makeup holds up really well, but sometimes it just vanishes. Probably something to do with the rain, heat, humidity, long days and stress I guess. These are the bits that I keep on hand for perking up my face when it's started to look a little worse for wear.
For fixing foundation faux-pas, I carry the Maybelline The Eraser Concealer. This stuff layers really well over foundation and powder, it's good coverage & it's easy to apply with fingers. I try to carry a cream blush in a bright colour too, because I find a little of that tapped into the cheeks with fingers really perks up the complexion. My favourite one right now is the Jouer Cheek Tint in Peony. I find that adding a little black liner on the lash line and waterline can totally revive tired looking eye makeup. I've recently discovered the L'Oreal Super Liner Mat-Matic in Ultra Black, and it's possibly the best pencil liner I've tried from the drugstore. And lastly on the makeup front, I like to carry a tinted lip balm, that I can apply on the go sans mirror. My personal favourite is the Dior Lip Glow Balm, but the Maybelline Baby Lips are a good budget alternative.
By lunch time my fringe is normally looking really flat or really greasy, so I tend to have a mini dry shampoo to perk it up. I also am super prone to dry and frizzy hair, especially when it's really windy, so the Percy & Reed No Oil Oil is a really handy handbag essential, it smooths out flyaways and adds shine to the hair without making it feel greasy and oily.
Other little essentials are a Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer, gum and a mini bottle of DKNY Be Delicious Perfume, a really fresh scent that smells super clean.
I keep all of this in my Whistles clutch!
What are your handbag essentials?
Time for round two of products that I just have to have in my stash. You guys know I can be prety fickle when it comes to makeup and beauty bits, so for me to say I wouldn't be without these? That's big stuff.
First things first, the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint. This stuff is like skin magic in a tube, it just perfects the appearance of your skin, without actually looking like you've put anything on your skin in the first place. If you haven't tried this yet, you need to, it's fantastic.
I've waxed lyrical on the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer many a time, but it needed a mention here. This primer just acts like makeup glue, and it keeps that face you spent twenty minutes constructing, look freshly applied all day long.
Now if there's one thing I hate doing, it's painting my toe nails. I just hate it. However, I absolutely love the Rimmel Salon Pro Polish in Hip Hop, and it's the only shade I ever paint my toes with. I'll be straight with you guys, I have seriously ugly feet, but this polish just helps them look better. It looks totally rockin' with a tan too.
I recently repurchased the Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, after polishing off my first tub. This is my favourite product for removing my makeup, it's gentle, hydrating, hard working, and it doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy, just nice and clean. This stuff makes light work of even waterproof mascara, and my first tub lasted nearly six months of daily use. Impressive.
And lastly, the Dove Refresh and Care Dry Shampoo, which you guys know is my favourite. It makes your hair not only look clean, but feel clean too, it doesn't leave that gritty, dirty texture in the roots of your hair, it just does a good job.
What products could you not be without in your stash?
Welcome to my little bedside beauty corner, my personal product haven dedicated to those precious moments of unwinding before sleep. I did one of these posts a while back but I've changed things around so I thought I'd show you the new additions!
As you can see I've sort of got a split level thing going on at the side of my bed, I have my Ikea Helmer unit with all my makeup in next to my bedside table, and so I've kind of spread everything out!
On my actual bedside table, I have a mini tray from Ikea, where I keep my Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm, This Works Sleep Balm & my base and topcoat since I like to paint my nails in bed! The Nuxe lip balm is my favourite for in the evenings, it's incredibly intensely hydrating, almost like a lip mask, and the This Works balm does wonders on my temples to soothe my tired, stressed out eyes. I also have a Ralph Lauren candle at my bedside, I don't know what it's called but it's a gorgeous fruity peach scent.
Up on the Helmer unit, I have all the other beauty bits crammed into an acrylic storage unit from TkMaxx, which is pretty perfect for the job. On one side, there's just one large compartment, whilst the other has lots of little slots for organising the little bits. On the left I have my Soap and Glory Endless Glove Hand Cream, which does wonders, especially at this time of year. There's The Body Shop Deep Sleep Pillow Mist which I like because it's not your typical lavender scent, it's got a fruity twist to it, although it's still really calming. I keep the Trilogy Rosehip Oil to hand, I apply it whenever I feel like my skin needs an extra boost of hydration, as well as a 4head stick, in case of headaches! I also have a little sample of the Lush Grease Lightening, for spot fighting.
On the other side, I keep my Optrex Brightening Eye Drops for if I wake up in the morning with dry and itchy eyes, as well as the A Derma Rheacalm Eye Cream, for hydrating the undereyes! I've got my Blistex Soothing Roll On Lip Balm, I like to apply this in the mornings when I wake up, and then it's usually all absorbed by the time I go to put my makeup on. I've got a rollerball of the This Works Deep Sleep Stress Less, because you can never have too many calming products, and a little lighter for my candles. And lastly, the Witch Blemish Stick for if I feel a spot brewing, and the Hoof Foot Mask, for my feet, obviously.
And that's everything! It seems like a lot, but it all fits in a little storage unit!
What do you keep on your bedside table?
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