What's On My Face #3 - Everyday Makeup

 I've been favouring a more natural look recently, peachy nude lips and a gentle smokey eye with a slick of pink blush has been what it's about.

On this particular day I used my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to blend Max Factor's Facefinity foundation into my skin. This is my favourite high street foundation, incredible coverage but still looks natural. I used my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer under my eyes to brighten them up. I would usually use my Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer too on any blemishes or red areas, but I was surprisingly blemish free, and this foundation covers redness incredibly well.

I then took my Nars Laguna Bronzer on a Real Techniques Powder brush under my cheekbones, and on my temples to add a little colour and give my chubby cheeks a slight contour. I then patted the Chanel Creme Blush in Revelation onto the apples of my cheeks with my finger, and blended it out with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I've tried loads of ways to apply this blush, and this is by far my favourite, it gives a very flawless finish and you can build it up this way too. 

Then onto my eyes, I skipped brows, just combing them through with a spoolie, and setting them in place with a clear mascara. I then took my Naked palette, and ran Buck, a medium matte brown, through my crease and outer corner, blending it loads with a fluffy brush, before packing Toasted, a shimmery pink, onto the lid with my MAC 215 which is my favourite brush for that. I blended it all again before adding a tiny bit of MAC Sketch into the outer corner, because I decided I wanted a little more definition. I also ran this under my lower lash line on a detailer blush. I then used my Max Factor Kohl Liner to tightline my eyes, as well as a little on my upper lash line for definition, and then added a little of the Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara to my upper and lower lashes. 

I then took my Real Techniques powder brush again, this time with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light to set my makeup, it gives the most flawless finish. I also took a tiny bit of Incandescent light under my browbone and on the inner corners of my eyes to highlight. Finished off with the Bobbi Brown Sheer Creamy Lip Colour in Tutu, which I am obsessed with at the moment. 

What do you think of this look? Have you used any of these products? What makeup have you been wearing recently?

I Can't Contour.

Ahh contour. This is possibly one of the more difficult things to do when it comes to makeup. I'd tried everything, big brushes, small brushes, dark bronzers, light bronzers, matte bronzers, shimmer bronzers, cream bronzers, the lot. It's a lot more difficult than it looks.

Earlier this month, there was an article in Stylist Magazine, called Down With Tools, and thanks to that, I think I may have figured out the perfect way to apply contour. 

I've found that NARS Laguna works best for this, it's pretty matte, the hint of shimmer isn't enough to make your face sparkle Edward Cullen style, and it's light and not too orange for a pale skinned girl like me! Please excuse dodgy pictures of me, I was half way through doing my makeup, with hair pinned back and foundation lips!

To do this, you use the fleshy part of your hand under your thumb, and lightly roll it in your bronzer. I prefer to do this really lightly, and then more than once, so I don't end up with too much.  Then place this part of your hand under your cheekbone, it should sit there perfectly, and roll your hand, so the bronzer transfers. 

This should leave you with a line just like this! I like to continue to use that part of my hand to blend it out a bit, but then I go to town with my Real Techniques blush brush to blend it all out! 

I then use the top line to guide where my blush should go, and then blend the two together, or if I'm going to skip blush just blend it out upwards!

I've found this is the only way to contour which doesn't leave my face looking bruised! It's definitely the most natural application method I've found!

I hope this helps!

How do you guys apply your contour?

May Favourites

And just like that, the end of another month is upon us. How time flies when you're having fun!

I'll get straight down to it with the products that have been putting a smile on my face in the month of May! First up, I've got one skincare item, which is possibly at cult status right about now, Pixi's Glow Tonic, which I finally got my hands on this month, the day they got a delivery in! This stuff is pretty much always sold out, since it's only available from Pixi's Carnaby Street Store. In essence it's an exfoliating toner, and it's dramatically brightened my skin since I've started using it! I'll be posting a full review very soon!

Next up is a hair product I've been loving. After having my hair trimmed and styled at House of Rush at the beginning of the month, I've been taking much more interest in my hair. I've accepted the shortness and am trying to embrace it! My stylist recommended spritzing the roots of my hair with dry shampoo or texturising spray after straightening, to add a little texture and volume. I've tried a few, but particularly I've been loving V05's Give Me Texture Spray. No white powder, just volume, texture and finally style! I've also been loving two brushes, I use the Andrew Barton comb whilst straightening my hair, and the pink coarse bristle brush from Sally's to backcomb and create volume at the root! I think they were about £2.99 each, so bargain!

An article in a copy of Stylist magazine this month has shown me the perfect way to apply contour, meaning my beloved NARS Laguna has had a lot more use! I'm going to do a full post on it tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

At the beginning of the month, I bought the Topshop Sunbeam powder highlighter after being recommended it by a ton of people during #bbloggers. I have to say, this is the highlighter that has made me realise the point of highlighters! I think this must just work well for me, since I've had a fair few highlighters before, but none that have worked for me like this one!

Two nail polishes I've been loving, first up the Seche Vite topcoat which is basically just the god of topcoats! Go buy it now. Right now. Secondly, my second forray into the world of H&M polishes, this glitter polish has been getting a hell of a lot of love!

I've never really got the Rimmel Scandaleyes shadow stick thing, but this month I realised that these are the key to the fuss free smokey eye. Really, it's so easy.

My lips have been feeling a little dry recently, so I've been tag teaming them with Blistex Moisture Max at night and the Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate during the day. Silky soft lips are now mine!

Out of the beauty world, and I just have a few random favourites to mention. I love my statement necklaces and this H&M one has barely had a day off since I bought it, I just love it so much. A visit to Prints in St Christophers Place left me with the perfect pens (it's a stationery nerd thing) and I am literally obsessed with them, and won't let anyone else use them! Lastly, my lovely new iPad mini, which I got at the beginning of April (thank you student finance) is the new love of my life. I've been loving the A Beautiful Mess app for instagram too!

What have been your favourites this month?