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

Simple Spring Make-up

Anyone in the UK will know that warm weather is not something we experience all to often. However now the sun seems to finally made a slight appearance, I'm very excited to dust of my Spring make-up & start creating a few lighter/brighter looks.

Below is a something I put together before heading off for a pub lunch - very stereotypically British, I know - & as it's my first real spring make-up look of 2016 I thought I'd share it here.

For the base of my make-up I decided to go with Rimmel's BB Cream. I love this as an alternative to foundation as it offers good coverage without feeling to heavy on the skin - perfect for the warmer weather. As foundation (or BB Creams) rarely cover all imperfections I opted for Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer - a cult favourite within the beauty world - to cover any remaining blemishes/red marks. I then dusted a light layer of Max Factors Translucent Setting Powder. A loose powder that feels beautifully lightweight on the skin & is a great way to set make-up without leaving the skin feeling at all cakey. 

When it came to bronzer, I decided to opt for Rimmel's Natural Bronzer. A natural looking bronzer that is perfect for adding a little warmth back to my face again. I then complimented this by using Make-up Revolution's Baked Highlighter "Golden Lights". Not only does the slight shimmer in this product make it perfect for highlighting those cheekbones, it also looks gorgeous when the light bounces off of it. The third & final product I used on my skin was a peach-tones blush from Make-up Revolution called Treat. This is a pretty peach-toned blush that creates just the right glow (although this doesn't seem to show too well in photos..oops). 

For brows I opted for a much-loved product of mine - Soap & Glory's Archery. Not only is the tiny-tapered pencil perfect for a creating fine/hair-like strokes, the attached spoolie is also great for blending any excess product (click here to read a full review). To set this I then used Rimmel's Brow This Way in clear - a styling gel designed to keep any unruly hairs in place throughout the day. 

Next - came mascara. Something I wanted to keep relativity natural & therefore opted for Benefit's They're Real Tinted Primer. Although designed to be used underneath the They're Real Mascara, I find this to be a perfect product for a daytime look as it adds length & definition without being too dramatic. 

The last product I used to create this look was an Estee Lauder Lipstick in the shade Wildly Pink A gorgeous shade with a creamy formulae that can either be used lightly to create a subtle pink colour (similar to above) or built up for a more dramatic, statement look. (Side note - the packaging in the link seems to have changed but the shade is still the same). 

I personally love this look & the products used as I find it looks like I've made an effort without feeling to heavy on the skin. Perfect for the warmer Spring months. 

What are your favourite make-up products

to use during Spring? 

xxx

Max Factor Glossfinity | Review

If there's one thing I love, it's freshly painted nails.. but if there's one thing I hate, it's chipped nail varnish. So when I stumbled across Max Factor's Glossfinity - a product that claims to provide glossy nails for up to seven days - I simply couldn't resist putting it to the test.

Shade:

Of course the first thing draws us to a new nail varnish is the shade.. So being the typical girly-girl I am, I couldn't resist picking up the bright & gorgeous shade known as "Just Cheerful". I personally love this colour & find it to be a great alternative to the berry-tones that are usually used throughout the gloomy winter months.

Finish:

As the product name suggests, this polish leaves a gorgeous "gloss" once dried. Whilst nothing to crazy - don't worry this isn't up there with glitter top coats - it does reflect light beautifully, leaving nails looking perfectly polished. *side note - no top coat has been used here*. 

Lasting Power:

Whilst Max Factor clearly promises "up to seven days" wear with this product, I can't say this was something I really believed.. So after application I made sure the next week consisted of many varnish-chipping activities (think office work, hair washing & trips to the gym) to really put this product to the test. By the end of day seven it's true that the varnish was in no way manicure perfect (a small amount of fading along the tips of nails) but I'm both surprised & happy to report that it actually didn't chip once... *excited squeal*. 

Price:

Max Factor's Glossfinity range currently retails at £5.99 per polish. Whilst not the cheapest option on the high-street, I personally find this price to be very reasonable for such a long lasting product.

After putting this to the test, it's safe to say that I have definitely found a new favourite product & I can't wait to test out more shades..

Have you tried any shades from the Glossfinity range?
What are your thoughts?
xxx

Christmas Party Make-up

Last week I jumped on the train down to London ready to celebrate alongside my colleagues at our annual Christmas Party. Of course, I wanted to look my best so carefully selected my current favourite beauty products to create a festive, party look (as you can see from the list below.. this turned out to be a lot of products!). 

Excuse the slight yellow tint - apparently hotel rooms
aren't the best for photos. 

Foundation - Mac Studio Sculpt [x]
Primer - Benefit "Pore-fessional" [x]

Setting Power - Max Factor Translucent Powder [x]

Bronzer- Sleek Face Contour Kit [x]
Under-eye Concealer - Rimmel Wake Me Up [x]
Blemish Concealer - Collection Lasting Perfection [x]

Highlighter - Benefit "Watts Up" [x]

Mascara - Benefit "They're Real" [x]

Eye-brows - Soap & Glory Archery 2-in-1 Brow Pencil [x]
Setting Spray - MUA Pro Base Fixing Mist [x]

Lipstick - Kate Moss for Rimmel in shade 30 [x]

To start the look I used Benefit's Pore-fessional, which I find perfect for creating a smooth base to the skin. This was followed with Mac's Studio Sculpt Foundation to provide full coverage & ensure my skin was well moisturised throughout the evening. After foundation, I covered any remaining dark circles & blemishes with concealer (Rimmel Wake Me up for Dark Circles & Collection Lasting Perfection for blemishes). This was then all set in place with a layer of Max Factor's Translucent setting powder - which is gorgeously light on the skin.  

Next to create a slight contour (I need all the help I can get when it comes to  giving the effect of cheekbones) I chose the bronzer from Sleek's Contour Kit to sit in the hollows of my cheekbones & a small amount of Benefit's Watt's up to add highlight to the tops of my cheekbones & nose. 

Following this was a mascara.. For this I used a product that I find perfect for adding both length & volume to my lashes - Benefit's "They're Real". This has quickly become one of my favourite products to use for a night out. I then moved onto eyebrows using my trusty Soap & Glory Archery Pencil to add shape & definition.

Next came the product that I really felt pulled this look together - lipstick. I decided to opt for a lipstick form the Kate Moss & Rimmel collaboration in the no.30. This is a deep plum statement shade that tied in perfectly with the deep purple of my dress. 

Last but not least came MUA's fixing mist. I sprizted a layer of this product to ensure the look stayed in place throughout the night.

Have you used any of these products?

What are your thoughts?

xxx

Max Factor Haul & First Impressions

I know, I know - more beauty items.. but how's a girl to resist?! Max Factor isn't actually a brand I tend to pick up on a regular basic (I'm a loyal Rimmel London girl) but after spotting the Star Wars collaboration sneak peaks a few months back, I knew it was something I needed for myself.

So when Boots released their "The Force Awakens" range this weekend I quickly placed my favourite lipstick into my shopping cart whilst feeling content with my treat. However - it was at this point that I made the ever fatal mistake of "just having a quick browse" at the other products available..which - of course - resulted in my picking up a range of products & somehow entering my payment details *oops*.

Colour Elixir Lipstick in the shade "Scarlet Ghost" - £7.99

Glossfinity Nail Varnish in shade "Just Cheerful" - £5.99 

Translucent Loose Powder - £7.99
Masterpiece Colour Precision Eye-shadow in the shade "Night Sky" - £6.99

Star Wars Lipstick in shade "Dark Berry" - £7.99 

False Lash Effect Mascara - £10.99

As I've just recently picked these items up, I haven't had chance to fully test each out yet. However from as far as first impression go it's safe to say that I'm very happy. Of course my favourite finds have to be both lipsticks as the shades are stunning.. but I'm also very excited to test out the mascara & loose powder (let's see how they match up to my current favourites!).

Have you tried any of these products?

What are your thoughts?

xxx

Empties - Foundation

This is a post that I've been meaning to put together for a few weeks now, but for some reason it was something that I just kept forgetting to write. I've collected these few foundations over the past five or six months & realised that I finally had a little collection that's big enough to write a post about.

This is my first "empties" post but after watching numerous videos/reading many blogs I think I've managed to get a general idea of the things that are typically talked/written about.. However at the same time ensure my own twist is included. 

To start - as you'll be able to tell from the photo below - Rimmel is definitely the prominent brand here.. But what can I say? When it comes to everyday foundation there's just something I love about Rimmel products. 

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation - 

Pros: During the duller months of the year this is a great foundation for adding a little extra glow to the skin and adding the "wake me up" look that this product is so well known for. It's also pretty light on the skin so doesn't feel cakey or clogging.

Cons: I know I know, I've just sung the praises of the glow this foundation provides. However I feel it's important to note that the added "shimmer" is not something can be used once the sun does finally make an appearance.. You'll more than likely end up with that glittery effect that only Edward Cullen can pull off so well.

Would I buy this again?  I think I'll definitely re-purchase this foundation but not until the autumn/winter months roll back around & I need a little something extra to help hide how sleepy/sun deprived I look.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation -

Pros: I think the coverage from this foundation is perfect for day-day wear. It is full coverage - so covers blemishes/uneven skin tone well - yet doesn't leave my skin feeling caked in product *a feeling I personally hate*.

Cons: In my opinion, I don't think this needs to be advertised as "25 hour". Admittedly the product is long lasting but I probably wouldn't go from a day in the office to a night out without at least a few touch-ups.. so unfortunately this isn't a miracle foundation that will cover blemished for ever.

Would I buy this again? Simply put.. Yes. The fact that this foundation doesn't last 25 hours isn't going to put me off re-purchasing. How often do you really need something to last that long? For me, this is a perfect every-day foundation that I can see myself repurchasing time and time again.

Max Factor Whipped Creme  Foundation - 

Pros: The main pro this product has to offer is the medium, yet easily buildable, coverage. The "whipped" element of the foundation means it didn't leave my skin feeling clogged or weighed down with product - yay!

Cons: Unfortunately the main con is also one of the main things that makes this product stick out from the rest.. The packaging. The little glass pot that this product comes in - although handy for storing a make-up bag - is in my opinion the one thing that let it down.  I found that no matter how hard I tried, there would always be some product left in the grooves of the glass.. & it was something that I just couldn't oversee.

Would I buy this again? Unfortunately, probably not. As much as I liked the overall effect the foundation had.. there was something that just frustrated me about not being able to get the last amount out of the pot. I know that there will always been some product left in any foundation (as you can see from the photo above) but in my opinion it was too much to overlook here.

Rimmel Match Perfection - 

Pros: In my opinion this works as a great summer foundation It offers a lightweight coverage that is ideal for warm days when you just want a little something to even-out skin tone/hide the fact that you stayed at the pub far too late the night before. I also think this is perfect for those that are new to foundation or simply prefer a lighter coverage.

Cons: The downside to being such a lightweight product, in my opinion, is that this probably isn't the best "go too" foundation for covering blemishes etc. However it has to be said that this is nothing a little concealer would't fix. 

Would I buy this again? Probably yes. Although not for day-to-day wear, I'd purchase this ready for the few weeks when England actually has a summer or for if I was jetting off somewhere sunny & wanted to pack a lightweight foundation with me. 

What foundation are you currently loving?

Do you have any tips for future "empties" posts?

xxx