Simple Summer Make Up

Whilst I love creating different summer looks, there's nothing worse than the feel of heavy make-up on a warm day.. Especially after spending so long creating the look, only for it to melt off in seconds.

So whilst recently on holiday in Spain, I took full advantage of my time in the sun to find the best combination of products to create a "simple summer look" to combat shininess & uneven skin-tone without leaving skin feeling "cakey".

Moisturiser - Nip + Fab Kale Fix - [x]
BB Creme - Rimmel Matte Beauty Balm - [x]
Setting Powder - Max Factor Loose Translucent Powder - [x]
Bronzer - Sleek Contouring & Blush Palette - [x]
Highlighter - Makeup Revolution Baked Highlighter - [x]

Mascara - Max Factor Clump Defy Mascara - [x]
Brows - Soap & Glory Archery Pencil & Brush - [x]

What are your go to summer make-up products?
I'd love to know in the comments

xxx

Kailijumei Secret Flower Lipstick

Now I love a new lipstick as much as the next beauty blogger.. I get excited when MAC release a new collaboration & love when we enter autumn/winter so I can wear all the berry tones.. however there's one particular lipstick I've had my eye on for a long time now - the Secret Flower Lipstick.

This is a product I've seen on countless Instagram posts but never quite known where to actually find it - until the day finally came when I found a link to Kailijumei & my lipstick dreams finally came true.

*heart eyes emoji*

For those who aren't as obsessed as me, the "secret flower" lipstick is just as described - a lipstick with a "secret"/"hidden" flower inside. Whilst it may sound a little strange, as you can see above it's a thing of complete beauty with little flecks of gold glitter & a small pink flower sealed within.

Whilst the lipstick itself is actually clear, once applied it slowly transforms into a soft baby-pink - something I imagine will be perfect for Spring/Summer. The formulae of the lipstick is surprisingly soft & not at all drying. When it comes to application, I'll admit that I haven't worn this product for a full day yet, however after swatching the pink-colour remained in place pretty-much all day - even after I tried to scrub it off (much better than something that fades away annoyingly fast).

The lipstick itself is available in 4 different styles including Baby Doll Pink (the style I purchased), Dream Purple, Flame Red & Minuet Maid, each retailing at £11.99. However after a little research it seems that each lipstick wears as the same shade of baby-pink. This means the names only reflect the colours of the small flower within the product (something to be noted if you're hoping for a purple lipstick).

For £11.99 I think this is a gorgeous lipstick & something I'm so happy to have within my collection. If Kailijumei release a range that includes more shades (hint red & berry tones) I'll definitely be picking up more.

What are your thoughts on the Kailijumei Secret Flower lipstick?

I'd love to know in the comments. 

xxx

Beautiful in Vegas - A Day to Night Look*

Since arriving home from my little Christmas break to Paris (watch this space for a post all about that) I can't help but think about my next holiday. One destinations that has made its way onto my wishlist has to be the one & only Las Vegas - in particular the stunningly beautiful Palazzo Hotel - the sister hotel of the world-famous Venetian Hotel.

From spa days to jaw-dropping shows, the Palazzo (& Vegas in general) seems to be a great place to really look your best - however (as something I imagine every beauty-lover knows all to well) getting ready can be pretty time consuming. A great way to avoid this is a simple day-night look. As someone who works full-time, day-night looks are something I often find myself creating as they're so quick. 

To start, I always top up my concealer to cover any pesky dark-marks or blemishes that may be reappearing  & then set everything back in place with my translucent powder. Next comes a quick application of bronzer & some trusty highlighter (I am not blessed with natural cheek-bones, thanks Dad!). I find this helps recreate that flawless base that comes with a fresh-face of makeup. 

The final make-up steps are two that I find really take the look from day-night; Eyeliner & Lipstick. Despite being a beauty lover, a cat-flick simply isn't something I've ever been able to master. However I find a simple black line across the upper lash-line is more than enough to add some definition. This - alongside a layer of lipstick - and the evening make-up is complete. 

To complete the look, a quick spritz of  Dry Shampoo to give my hair some added volume followed by some fresh perfume & I'm ready to head straight out to enjoy whatever the night has in store! 

If - like me - a trip to Vegas is something that takes your fancy, be sure to check out the amazing packages & offers currently available through Vegas.com. 

If you have any tips for taking a look from day-night,
I'd love to know in the comments below.
xxx

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer.

A few months back I purchased of one of Rimmel's Apocalips Lip Lacquers in she shade Stellar... I then realised that - although mentioned it in a few make-up looks - I've never actually completed a review.. (I know, I know.. I lose blogging points for this mistake). 

For those who don't know, the Apocalips Lip Lacquers collection combines the pigmentation & lasting power of a lipstick with the application of a gloss. Now I'll admit that when I hear the words "lip gloss" I usually have intense flashbacks to being a new-to-make-up teenager who had to deal with sticky packaging & constantly peeling hair off my lips *thanks wind*.  However since discovering this product those awful teenage memories have been long forgotten &  a new favourite now sits amongst my lipsticks. 

Please excuse how grumpy I look here - apparently taking photos before work isn't the best time. 

• Packaging: One of the main things that catches my eye about the packaging of this product is how it slowly progresses from hot pink (showing off the product colour) to black. In my opinion this is far more attractive than the option of all black or all pink. 
• Finish/Colour Pay Off: As mentioned above I own the shade "Stellar" which (as you can see from the photos above) is a highly pigmented, bright pink. Obviously if "bright" isn't your thing then I wouldn't recommend this particular product - however if like me you love to experiment with bright shades, this will not disappoint. 
• Applicator: Another aspect of this product that really stands out to me is the applicator. Although at first you'll notice the usual, spongy brush- upon closer inspections you'll notice a small cut-out section which allows the product itself to settle in. This allows for an easy application that offers the perfect amount of product. 
• Price: Currently retailing at £6.49, this is a tiny bit pricer than Rimmel lipsticks. However in my opinion the extra pound or so is completely worth it for the quality of product. 
• Formulation: A silky and creamy formula that is not at all sticky.. What more can you ask for?
• Staying Power: Another great element of this product is that I find it almost stains my lips. Although it doesn't last for a full day  (if you take eating/drinking into account) it does last well into the afternoon without too much of the dreaded part-fade & therefore eliminates the "six year old that's eaten way to many ice-lollies" look. 

It's pretty clear to see that I have been completely won over by the product & I can honestly say that I can't wait to invest in the gorgeous looking shades... (I can hear my poor bank account groaning already).

Have you ever tried anything from the Apocalips range?
What are your thoughts?
xxx

High End Make-up Wishlist

Despite loving so many of my trusty high-street beauty products there's something about treating myself to something a little more luxurious.

Unfortunately being part of at least trying to act like a responsible adult is that I can't justify spending all my wages on make-up *cries a little inside*. However that doesn't stop me from adding item into my various online baskets

I've put together a little wishlist of some of the items that I've currently got my eye on... some are probably classed as slightly more "high-end" than others.. but they're all generally pricier than the usual high-street brands.

1. Charlotte Tilbury's "Filmstar Bronze & Glow" - Bronze & Highlighter - £49.00 [x]

2. YSL Touche Éclat - Highlighter - £25.00 [x]

3. MAC's Isabel & Ruben Toledo - Ombre Blush in "Light Cool Pink" - £25.00 [x]

4. Nars Sheer Glow - Foundation - £31.00 [x]

5. Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine - Lipstick in "Boheme" - £25.00 [x]

6. Lancôme’s Hypnôse Doll Eyes - Mascara - £22.50 [x]

Although slightly more on the pricey side who doesn't love a little splurge every now and then? My favourite items listed have to be Charlotte Tilbury's Bronze & Glow, MAC's Isabel & Ruben Blush and Chanel's Rouge Coco lipstick. 

Which high end beauty products are on your wishlist?

xxx

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation

After a lunch with the girls a little while back - I decided to kill some time in town whilst waiting for my boyfriend to finish work. The smart thing would of been for me to go home - especially considering we only like a short walk from the city centre - but nope.. somehow I found myself wandering into the local MAC store for a browse.

I know what you're thinking..who just browses in MAC? 

I completely agree with you - but I honestly did have the intention of just browsing. However within no more than five minuets in the shop, I found myself at the counter asking one of the girls if she could match me up to some foundation. I don't even know how it happened.. It's like my brain left my head & floated off to make-up land. 

Now, this may shock a few of you out there, but I have never owned a MAC foundation before.. I know - I know. But I just couldn't justify £20.00 & up on foundation whilst trying to live on a student budget.. Other things had priority like alcohol vegetables. 

However since beginning my full time job, my mindset has changed too "what's the point in working so hard if I can't treat myself?!".. I'd probably go insane working all those hours with nothing nice to show for it! 

Before I walked up to the counter in the first instance I honestly felt a little nervous and dare I say it, intimidated by these girls who look so down right amazing  but once I started chatting to them, they were actually lovely & so helpful.

So there I was, sat in the chair at MAC.. surrounded by girls whose make-up had been applied to perfection (I honestly felt like some sort of troll..) explaining to the sales assistant how - yes - I did want the foundation to match my natural skin tone (I'm usually too lazy to fake tan) how I wanted something medium/full coverage & how I have quite dry skin.

After nodding along, the girl vanished for a few minuets before returning with MAC's Studio Sculpt Foundation. She explained how this was perfect for dry skin as it's super moisturising and also ticks off all the things I requested. She tested some out on my skin & explained how nice the shade looked on me (I know - I'm sure they're paid to say that, but still.. a compliment is a compliment) & I happily agreed to take it.

I have shade NW15 - I know, pretty pale. 

I've been using this for on and off for a few weeks now & I can honestly say I love this foundation.

 I was a little unsure at first as I had read that some MAC foundations had caused people to break out & obviously this wasn't something I wanted to happen.. But besides a couple of spots when I started using this product *which if I'm honest were probably going to appear either way* I've not had any problems yet. 

More Things I love:

• Moisturising - The sales assistant wasn't lying. Wearing this foundation leaves my skin feeling silky smooth & moisturised throughout the day 
• Shade - In my opinion, there's nothing better than finding a foundation that matches your skin tone perfectly 
• Wear - I was worried that this would wear off throughout the day, but I actually find it to be long lasting 
• Coverage -  Studio Sculpt definitely met my requirements as a medium coverage foundation that's easily build-able 
• Fragrance - I can't really describe what this exactly smells like, but it has such a lovely scent - especially for a foundation

There are only really two downsides that I have found so far with this foundations. The first being that it can take a while to dry on this skin (but whilst I wait for this I tend to go ahead and concentrate on my eyebrows etc.) and the other being that sometimes it feels a little thicker on my skin than other foundation. I wouldn't go as far as to say this feels "cakey" but sometimes I feel a bit aware of it on my skin.. if that makes sense? However overall, these really are tiny "cons" that haven't put me off this foundation yet.

Retailing at £25.00 this is obviously on the pricier side in comparison to high-street brand foundations. However you're definitely paying for quality. I won't be giving up my favourite drug store foundations any time soon - but this MAC foundation has found a place in make-up collection that I doubt will be replaced any-time soon.

Studio Fix can be purchased in store or online here x 

What's your favourite foundation?

xxx

Miniture Barry M Haul

On a recent trip into town after work I decided to have (what I thought would be) a quick look in Superdrug.. However, after around half an hour browsing the different beauty products & being successfully side tracked by the Barry M offers - I found myself wandering out of the shop with a little bag of goodies.

Oops...

The first item that magically ended up in my hand was the gorgeous Natural Glow Palette.. 

I've been wanting to expand my eye shadow pallet collection for a while now, and couldn't resit this Barry M  pallet. The product contains two matte shadows, four shadows with a slight shimmer and a light pink blush. The colours are a selection of gorgeous soft pastels that are perfect for spring/summer & the packaging is simple but pretty with the rose gold lettering adding a touch of elegance.
Bonus - the mirror is also the perfect size for when your travelling around & don't want to carry lots of separate items.

I've had my eye on a couple of the more high-end pallets recently but I'm really happy with this find. I can't wait to create different make-up looks with this item & think it would be perfect for both day time & evening wear.

The next items that were accidentally purchased were two of Barry M's Nail Paints. 

I've been a massive fan of the Barry M nail Varnish's for years.. Right back to the days of the crackling top coat  (hands up if you thought that effect was incredible too..).

The first nail varnish I picked up was one of Barry M's silk effect varnishes in the shade Pearl. I've heard a few rumours within the blogging world that white nails are going to be a popular option for Spring/Summer 2015 & it's easy to see why. The pale white colour offers the same clean and fresh look that a nude polish offers whilst being a little more on vibrant side. 

I'm also excited to try see exactly how the "Silk" effect looks once applied. I'm imagining a cross between shimmer & gloss - so let's hope this doesn't disappoint! 

The second nail paint I picked up was one of the Gelly Hi-Shine effects in the shade Guava. Whilst being the polar opposite shade to my first choice I felt this would be perfect for a summer statement nail - especially after a winter of dark nails. 

Even though the Gelly Hi-shine range has been on the shelves for a while now it's something I'm yet to try out. I love the idea of gel overlays (there's something about a perfectly glossy nail that just looks amazing) but the thought of my nails being ruined is something that fills my stomach with dread - So I'm hoping this will offer a cheap at home alternative.

Close ups... 

Superdrug are currently running an offer on  Barry M Nail which includes each of the products mentioned. The Natural Glow Palette usually retails for £6.49 however is currently on offer for £4.49 & you can also pick up two nail paints for £6 - or they retail individually at £3.99.

To view each of these products on Superdrug's wesbite click the links below:

Natural Glow Palette - [x]
Silk Effect Nail Paint in Pearl - [x]
Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Guava - [x]

Even though this was only a mini haul there's just something about treating myself to a few new beauty items that always makes me happy (simple things & simple minds? Probably.)

I'm sure I'll "accidentally" wander into Superdrug or Boots again soon for another browse of what beauty products are on offer. 

Which are your favourite Barry M products?

xxx

MAC Cinderella Collection 2015

If you're a fan of beauty you'll know that Mac have released a number of collections in the past. These have generally been inspired by iconic brands such as The Simpson and Archie's Girls or designed by A list celebs like Rihanna. 

However, I've seen a few posts and photos recently around the blogging world that feature an upcoming Mac collection that have got me ridiculously excited.. & if you're a Disney fan like me, it's probably a safe bet that you'll be pretty excited about this too.. 

What's the collection you ask? Okay okay... It's the Mac Cinderella collection! *squeals with excitement*. 

Source                                 Source

As you can see from the right hand photo the collection seems to boast some gorgeous colours in simple, yet lovely packaging.. Whilst the left photo (which is an advertisement I love!) shows how the collection will be realised in March.. Which suddenly seems so so far away, I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to wait! 

I've already got my eye on the lipstick (how cute would it be to wear a Disney Cinderella lipstick?!) and I'm sure I'll be more than a little bit tempted by other items in the collection. 

xxx

Face of the day - Christmas shopping

Today I had to use one of my days off to finish some Christmas shopping so I thought this was the perfect excuse to put together a little Christmas look.

As I was just popping into town I didn't want to go too overboard with products and really wanted to keep things pretty simple. Therefore, for the main part of this look, I went for a bright red lipstick.

I feel a bright red lipstick is perfect for the Christmas season as it's so festive... I also feel there's something about such a statement lip that builds confidence.

This may just be me, but going for a bright or bold colour always makes me feel like I'm dressed up and really boosts my confidence levels.

Pose...

Like I said, I really didn't want to go over board with the products today, so below you can see what I used to create my simple, yet festive look.

Apparently this involved a lot of Rimmel products!

On my skin I used the Rimmel Matte BB Cream in shade light. I had never jumped on the BB cream hype, but when I was sent this as a sample I was pleasantly surprised. I find the product sits on  my skin beautifully and saves the hassle of having to add a tonne of concealer after to cover up any dark circles or spots. Plus I'd heard this product, being matte, wasn't the best for anyone with dry skin. Now as a lifetime sufferer of dry skin - especially in the winter - I  was sceptical at first, however I actually found this to be very moisturising and not at all drying.. Yay! 

After applying the BB cream I used my trusty Sleek contouring and Blush Palette. This has been an everyday product of mine for a few months now and I love it. Plus I always find that after applying foundation I tend to look a little washed out/generally unwell - which is not a good look! This palette helps add some definition and a little colour to  my face again. 

The next step was to add some some definition to those eyelashes of mine. For this I used another one of my current staple items; the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara in shade 003/extreme black. I really feel this lengthens my lashes, but without making them clump together or feel weighed down. Plus it always makes me look that bit more awake early in the morning when - of course - I'm actually struggling to keep my eyes open at all! 

When it came to my brows, I really felt like being pretty lazy today. So I decided to take the easier option of pencilling them in to add some definition and shape (does anyone else feel a little naked without doing their eyebrows now, or is that just me?!). For days like today, I turn to the Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in the shade 002/Hazel which does the job perfectly. 

Finally, the main product in this look.. the lipstick. This is from Rimmel's Lasting Finish collection and is in the shade 170/Alarm. This is one of my favourite shades as it's so bright and has great staying power. Plus it's very moisturising and doesn't fade in a patchy way like some other lipsticks do (which is great as I hate after an hour or so of wearing a product, ending up looking like I've just eaten a ice-lolly). 

With the exception of the BB cream, I bought each of these products from Superdrug and they're each something I'll reinvesting in when the time comes.

If anyone has any other products they use for a festive look, I'd love to know! Always on the look out for a new product to try

xxx

This is Halloween

I know we're all over the Halloween excitement and now looking towards Christmas, but I loved Halloween this year and really wanted to write a post about it.

I'd say this is the first year I've put some proper effort into my costume for a while as whilst I was at university my effort was pretty poor - think cat / a small amount of fake blood & calling myself a zombie.

I decided this year to try out the half skull, half normal make-up I'd seen floating around the Pinterest world (obviously setting my sites high, as anyone who looks on Pinterest does). Although if I'm honest, I was actually pretty pleased with how it turned out! Especially for someone with no experience with anything outside of the usual day to day make-up.

Spooky...

For my outfit, I bought a skeleton leotard from eBay for around £6 (bargain) and teamed it with some black disco pants, which you can see below.

Yes, me & Ollie accidentally coordinated 

I love Halloween as it's the one time of year - a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girl can say anything about it (Haha joking, couldnt resist the "Mean Girls" quote there) - you get really go out with all types of make-up and clothing you wouldn't usually wear! 

Plus it's the perfect excuse to eat lots of naughty treats and watch spooky films! 

Did anyone have any fun costumes?

Top Ten Tag!

So I stumbled across a comment from the lovely TashEmily on my Autumn Winter New Look wishlist (which you can read by clicking here.. teehee cheeky). Within this comment was the mention of the fact that I'd been nominated to do the "Top Ten Tag".

I love being nominated to do different "tags" as it provides an excuse to write something a little different plus it allows me to interact with people from different blogs - which is always fun! 

So.. here we go! 

Rules: Copy and paste everything written in Bold - and state which is your favourite of the make-up items below. 

This Tag was created by Jessica Vannan at Pretty Chit Chat (Click here to view her blog.. It's amazing) 

I was tagged by TashEmily, the creator of A World Full of Wonders - if you havent already, check out her blog by clicking here. It's adorable! 

Finally, I would like to nominate Holly over at Empfire- again, you can visit her gorgeous blog by clicking here (after reading this first though of course haha)

Now most of the products I'm going to mention are the ones I'm currently using and therefore are my current favourites -  What I would consider to be my favourite product does change dependant on things such as weather, the occsasion and just generally how I'm feeling.. But anyway, enough of my rambling and back to the Tag!  

1. Foundation: 
I am currently loving the Max Factor Whipped Creme Foundation. I have this in the shade 40 (light ivory) and find it provides a lovely coverage that is easily build-able. I also find a small amount of this product goes a relatively long way, which is perfect if you're trying to save some pennies!

Source

2. Powder: 
Now if I'm perfectly honest the power I use to set my foundation is not in anyway a pricey one. If you read my Face of the day, Lazy Sunday Make-up post (which you can read here if you like.. teehee oops) you'll know I use the MUA pressed powder. This powder is an absolute bargain at only £1 and does a pretty good job at keeping your make-up in place.

I'll admit, it isn't as great as some of the higher end powder, but for £1 you can't really ask for more! So this is definitely a current favourite.

Source

3. Concealer: 
My favourite concealer of the moment is definitely the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer (shock I know, this product is all over the Blogging and YouTube world). Now I wouldn't say I usually jump on product bandwagons, but when my previous concealer ran out *sobs quietly* I decided to finally give this product a try... It's safe to say I was not disappointed!

Rimmel's Wake Me Up concealer has made it's way into this list as I find it offers a perfect amount of cover up for any blemishes or dark circles - I've been able to test this out a fair bit this month as my skin has been preeeetty awful, so thanks skin!.

It's also perfect for those days where you either don't want, or can't be bothered with a full face of make-up.  

Source

4. Blusher: 5. Bronzer: 6. Highlighter: 
I've decided to combine numbers 4, 5 & 6 together as the Blusher, Bronzer and Highlighter I love comes as a palette, and I think it would be pretty boring to read about the same thing three times!

My current favourite Blush, Bronzer and Highlighter currently come from the Sleek Face Form kit. I adore this palette and it is definitely a staple within my make-up collection.

The bronzer offers a beautifully pigmented shade for contouring that isn't too dark and can be easily blended. In addition to this, Sleek's highlighter compliments the bronzer perfectly when highlighting  areas of the face such as the bridge of your nose or upper cheeks.

Finally, I find the blusher in this palette offers just the right amount of colour to my cheeks. It adds a light pinky colour - which I add to the apples of my cheeks - whilst avoiding looking either strangley sunburnt or just plain sweaty - eew.

Source

7. Mascara:
My current favourite mascara is one by the Boots brand No7. Since working everyday I don't want to use anything to heavy duty on my eyelashes - would probably look a tad unprofessional - so I've been using this as it offers a lovely natural look whilst still defining my eyelashes.

Source

8: Eye Shadow: 

Hmmm I've been thinking and thinking about this, and whilst there are eye shadows that I love, I'm not really wearing any at the moment so I don't think it would be fair to include something as a "favourite" that I'm not actually using much!

I am looking to invest in some of the eyes shadow sticks soon, so I may write a review!

9: Brows: 
I've recently started having my eye-brows tinted now at a salon when I have them waxed/threaded (Ouch) so I'm not sure if I can count this as a "favourite"... Although I have loved having tinted eyebrows. It was a slight shock at first - as I have blonde hair and the dye came up VERY dark, but over the course a few days it's began to fade, thank-god! I've found it a lot easier to maintain my eye-brows since having them tinted as they're pretty much always in shape.. All I do in the mornings now is comb them into shape!

I do need to invest in some setting gel though, as having darker eyebrows now means it's alot more noticeable when certain hairs go AWOL!

However, when the eyebrow dye has faded or when I decide to just have them waxed only - I use Rimmel's Professional Eyebrow Pencil in shade 002 - Hazel to add a little more shape and definition to my eyebrows.

Source

10: Lip Product: 
My current favourite lip product comes from Rimmel's Kate Moss lipstick range. I brought one of these lipsticks recently in the shade 08 for my graduation ceremony.

This shade is a lovely dark Nude which is perfect for when you don't want a bright colour on your lips, but still want a little something. I also think this lipstick will be perfect for the upcoming Autumn/Winter months when paired with some brighter coloured clothing or bolder eye-makeup!

Source

I hope you've enjoyed this little insight into my make-up collection!
If anyone has any recommendations for any products let me know, I'm always looking for an excuse to buy new make-up!

xxx

Face Of The Day - Lazy Sunday Make-up

Whilst I was getting ready this morning *well I say this morning but it was really around midday, oops lazy* I decided to turn my little routine into a new blog post. 

This is the first time I've written anything like this so forgive me, it may not be perfect. But I personally love reading about people's make-up routines, so thought I would share one of mine along with showing  some of the different products I'm currently using. 

I'd say this routine is the base of my every-day look, then depending on my mood, time or the days activities, I'll either glam it up, or tone it down - think bright lipsticks for a night out and just a touch of concealer if a friend's coming over. 

This Sunday afternoon consisted of a wander into town so - as the title suggests - I opted for a lazy/natural make-up look.

Step 1: 

 How adorable!

So... First things first.. I grab one of my make-up bags. I usually keep my day-day bits and pieces in this bag, then other make-up bits in a bigger bag. I purchased this about a week ago from Primark and it was only £2.. Absolute bargain, plus it fits nicely into my hand-bag.

Step 2 - Face:

I really couldn't be bothered with a primer this morning, so opted to go straight for foundation. I am currently using the Max Factor "Whipped Creme Foundation" in the shade 40 (Light Ivory) *Super pale I know*.

I am loving this Foundation as I find it blends so well whilst providing lovely coverage - it also smells nice, bonus! I've been dying to try this Foundation since I received a sample a few months back, so when my old foundation started to come to an end, I finally decided to give it a go.

To blend this, I use the Real Techniques Stippling Brush - I know it needs a clean.. oops - To find out more about this, read my review post here *Spoiler - I love it*.

Once I've finished, I use a pressed powder to ensure my foundation is completely set and then stays in place throughout the day. I also use this product if I've been rushing around - e.g. a mad dash to work - to reduce any shine and signs of a sweaty face *beautiful*.

 I use a powder brush - yes I know this also needs a clean, don't judge me - which I believe is from Boots.. Maybe no.7? I've had this for so long now I can't really remember - sorry!

But back to the powder -  I'm using the pressed powder by MUA (aka Make-up Academy), which I bought a while back when I was a poor student for the absolute bargain of £1!

Now I didn't have the highest of expectations when I made this purchase, but I have to say I've been pleasantly surprised. As you can probably tell from the photo, I have used this loads - everyday to be precise -  and continue to be very happy with it.

This powder is very fine and provides a lovely matte finish to my skin. I personally have very dry skin but do not find this drying at all.

Unfortunately I've used this so much that the writing has pretty much vanished, but being so pale, I probably have this in shade 1 - maybe 2 at a push haha.

Obviously this powder may not be as effective as some other brands, but for £1 you really can't go wrong.

If you're interested in this powder, click here to be taken to the MUA website, or you can purchase it in Superdrug (and UK students can get that 10% off with those NUS cards).

The next step for today's make-up look is bronzer.
In my opinion bronzer is a saint of the make-up world. It works absolute wonders!

My current bronzer favourite comes from the Sleek Face Form contouring kit. As you can see from the photo, the compact comes in a set of 3 - a bronzer, blusher and highlighter.

For my lazy make-up look I simply used the bronzer, along with my fluffy cheek brush and apply the bronzer over my cheekbones up to brown bones (as if I was doing a full contour), dust a little on my forehead and finally some more along the sides of my jaw line.

The cheek brush I have used here is by a brand called Front Cover. I think it came from Boots - although it was a Christmas gift so I'm not 100% sure. Boots don't seem to have a link on their website so click here to go to the Front Cover site and maybe have a nose around. It's so soft and fluffy and does an excellent job of applying powdered make-up.

After this I blend the bronzer with my big powder brush to ensure I'm not streaky - not a good look!

Again, if you're interested in Sleek's contouring kit you can find it here on the Sleek website, or at Superdrug - which is where I personally purchased it from. Although my local Tesco also has a Sleek make-up counter *just a little head-up if you struggle to find it*.

This is also very affordable at only £9.99 and I personally love it. This kit is a staple in my make-up routine and I honestly don't think I could go without out it now!

Step 3 - Eyes: 

I kept it very simple today with just a few coats of Rimmel's Volume Flash x 10 Extreme Black mascara. Now I'm not too sure if this really gives my eyelashed 10x volume "in a flash" as the packaging and adverts state.

However, this is still a great mascara for the price and does lengthen my lashes along with creating a slightly more dramatic look. I've only used this product for day time wear so far, so admittedly haven't tried any look that is too dramatic - I feel my boss would have a slight fit if I walked into the office with a full on dramatic smokey eye look - but for my next night out, I may give it a go!

The only issue with this product - and I aim to be completely honest when writing about products - is that it can be a little clumpy at time. Clumpy eye-lashes are a pet hate of mine, so as soon as I notice it I'll do anything I can to un-clump.

Don't fear though - this issue can be easily fixed either with a clean mascara spoolie or an eyelash comb, which every you prefer. Personally I use an old mascara wand, which has been cleaned, and then just quickly run it through my lashes before the mascara dries... Clumpy eyelashes banished! *cheers happily*

This retails at around the £6.00 mark, so is very affordable and can be purchased from the Rimmel website here or from Superdrug *can you see a pattern forming here? Haha*.

Step 4 - Eyebrows: 

As most people know, eye-brows are such an important feature of the face. It's crazy the amount of power two little lines of hair can have! Therefore I like to make sure my eyebrows are nicely filled.

I tend to go back and forth between using powder with an eyebrow brush and an eyebrow pencil to fill in my eyebrows (don't think I could have said "eyebrow" any more throughout that sentence). For this lazy look though, I opted for the pencil.

I start by combing over my eyebrows with the little brush on the lid, then run over my eyebrows with the pencil in short, light strokes.

As my eyebrows are naturally darker then my hair (but I don't want them to look too dark as it just doesn't look right on me - think caterpillars) I find this technique helps to ensure they stay looking natural, yet in shape.

After this I quickly run back over the top of my eyebrows just to ensure any loose flakes from the pencil are removed and everything is perfectly blended.

The pencil I currently use is the Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil, in the shade Hazel, which is very purse friendly at just £2.99. You can view this product here on the Rimmel website or - of course - purchase it from Superdrug.

Step 5 - lips: 

There really wasn't a whole lot of effort put into my lip make-up today. But once everything else had been finished I applied a layer of The Body Shop's Born Lippy lip balm in the flavour Strawberry.

According to the website the Born Lippy lip balm range provides a slight lip tint. Now I don't have any of the other shades yet, but I wouldn't say this  provides any tint at all. However, I didn't want a balm that provided any colour, so I feel this is perfect for those days when you want a natural make-up look, but still have a little something on your lips.

The balm is also lovely and moisturising - without having that horrible sticky feeling to it - and adds a ever so slight shine to the lips. 

In addition to this, one of my favourite things about this product is the packaging -  which is a fun pop-art themed!

The only slight downside comes from the fragrance, which is a little on the "fake-strawberry" side. To be fair though this isn't over powering in the way that some Strawberry scented products are, and this isn't a scent that lingers around. 

I love this product and usually carry this around in my handbag every day! The Body Shop has a range of flavours, which include plum, pomegranate and toffee - so if Strawberry isn't your thing there are plenty of options!  

This retails for £3 which isn't too pricey and can be brought from The Body Shop website here, or in store. 

End result: 

What I believe to be a natural/lazy day make-up look!

What a poser!

xxx

*Disclaimer*

After reading back through this I mention the shop Superdrug around a million time. I promise this isn't sponsored or endorsed by the company in anyway... Apparently I just have a slight addiction with the shop. Haha!

Nivea tinted moisturiser - review

If you're living in the UK at the moment, you'll know that we've been having some glorious summer weather. However, as much as I love the summer and hot weather, it can be a bit of a nuisance for us make-up loving girls. Foundation + sweat does not end well (although of course us girls don't sweat properly - everyone knows that!)

So after applying my foundation sparingly the last couple of days and finding that within a few hours my face had almost completely reverted to its original *slightly terrifying haha* pre-foundation state I stumbled across an old friend. This old friend is my Nivea tinted moisturiser. 
If I'm honest, I'd pretty much forgotten about this product until this morning - oops - so upon finding it at the bottom of my make-up bag I decided to see if this could help with my summer-foundation troubles. 

(Please excuse the grubby packaging - 

the poor thing's been buried beneath my other make-up)

I purchased the moisturiser in the shade "natural", which is slightly darker than my natural skin tone, but as I do get a (teeny tiny) bit of a tan throughout the summer months it's not to much of a problem. However - due to this - this probably isn't a product I'd use in the winter months in order to avoid looking like my face had gone on holiday without the rest of my body... which obviously wouldn't be great.

I applied the moisturiser with my Real Techniques Stippling brush (which you can read my review on here if you like) by buffing the product into my skin. I found it had a pretty good coverage considering it's not a foundation, but without feeling too heavy on the skin. Perfect for warmer days. After application, I simply dusted over with a light coverage of setting powder and then added a little bronzer to my cheeks, jaw and hairline before completing the rest of my day to day make-up (eyes, eye-brows etc).

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this product as it lasted well throughout the day - despite me being out and about in the sun - and it felt like my skin was able to breath. Bonus (x2) - this is perfect for dryer skin (which I have) due to the moisturising effect and the product has an SPF 8. Always nice to have some added protection from those nasty UV rays!

Now I know you can purchase light coverage foundations - I have some from Rimmel that I love - but personally I feel this is much nicer on my skin for warmer weather.

This is a perfect alternative if you want some coverage on warm summer days or simply prefer a lighter product compared to a normal foundation.

If you're interested in purchasing the Nivea Tinted Moisturiser, you can purchase it from Superdrug for a lovely low price of £3.59 (remember those NUS cards if you're a student for discount!) or click here to view the product on their website.
I personally purchased mine from the shop Savers (not sure if these can be found through-out the UK or not, but if you have one by you be sure to check it out. It usually has lots of products on offer at cheaper prices and I LOVE it haha!

If anyone else can recommend some perfect foundations/tinted moisturisers/BB creams for summer use, please let me know. I'd love to try something new! 


xxx