Thursday 29 September 2011

I guess I got my swagger back.


Face;
Estee Lauder Double Wear - Tawny
Maybelline Dream Matte Powder - Golden Beige
Illamasqua Powder Blusher - Katie
NYX Jumbo Eyeliner - Milk
Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Cat Eyes Mascara - Black
Loreal Super Liner - Black
ELF Lip Stain - Red Carpet
HD Brow Kit - Ash Brown & Warm Brown
Maybelline Single Eyeshadow - Nude Beige

Outfit;
Corset Top - Cream. Asos.
Faux Leather Bodycon Skirt - H&M £14.99

Sorry about the poor quality photos, taken on my Blackberry!

Monday 26 September 2011

september favourites

Sorry about the slightly premature favourites post but I always seem to miss out on these monthly favourites as I leave it too late so here they are..

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 'Tawny' - As mentioned in my previous post I am in love with this foundation. Not only have I re-purchased but I use it every single day and currently it's the best foundation I've ever tried. If you like full coverage I'd definitely recommend you to pick up a sample, along with the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer and a Sigma F80 and you'll stipple your way to the most flawless skin you've ever seen.

Maybelline Colossal Volume Express 'Cat Eyes' Mascara - After a lengthy rave from a sales assistant in Superdrug I decided to pick up this mascara and boy, I'm glad I did. The wand is very small and slightly curved so makes getting all the little baby lashes incredibly easy. As well as adding length it also separates the lashes really well while adding a bit of volume too. Layered with the Rimmel Lash Accelerator it gives me long, luscious lashes.

Mac 'Myth' Lipstick - I still adore Natural Collection 'Apple Blossom' but this nude lipstick is also a firm favourite. Myth has a peachy undertone, smells of vanilla and applies smoothly but I do find it to be slightly more drying.

Maybelline Single Eyeshadow in 'Nude Beige' - If you're looking for a shimmery champagne colour then look no further. This is the perfect colour for me to use as an all over lid shade or to highlight the tear duct, lately I've been teaming this with bronzed cheeks, dewy skin and red lips.

HD Brow Kit from Septembers Glossy Box - I knew I'd love this product the moment I set eyes on it. I'm obsessed with eyebrows and this palette comes with four very pigmented shades, perfect for filling in your brows. As the shadows are so pigmented they can also be used as eye shadows or even as a subtle eyeliner. As well as being packaged well, you also get a mini applicator brush and a compact mirror. Perfect.

Thursday 22 September 2011

Everyday Foundation Routine feat. Estee Lauder Double Wear

For the last few months I have stuck to the same 'face base' routine which is completely bizarre for me. Usually I'll swap between foundations each day, blend two types together, layer different foundations - anything in an attempt to achieve a perfect airbrushed finish.

When I first purchased Estee Lauder's Double Wear I was a bit unsure about whether I liked it but now, it's love. I've almost used up my first bottle and I've already purchased another as a back up which is almost unheard of for me. Of course, all products have their drawbacks and for me I do find that you need the right brush for application, you have blend it in well and the scent is slightly off putting. However, it is the best foundation I've tried so far.

I start off by applying the Good Things Miracle Mattifier moisturiser, then use my fingers to blend a thin layer of Maybelline's Pure Liquid Mineral foundation as a base/primer. I've got incredibly oily skin and have yet to find a primer that does the job, by applying this first it allows the Double Wear to apply smoothly and blend better. Next is the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, I buff this into the skin with the Sigma F80 then stipple all over the skin to achieve an airbrushed finish. If I need it I apply a small amount of the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer which I also pop on my eyelids as a base. Finally a light dusting of the Maybelline Dream Matte Powder with a large powder brush finishes everything off and my make-up doesn't move all day.

Although it might seem like a lot of work buffing, stippling, concealing I find that if you put the effort into making sure everything is blended and set properly then it really will last the whole day!

Oh, one other downside of Estee Lauder Double Wear - no pump!

Thursday 15 September 2011

glossy box september

I know I'm a bit late on the September GlossyBox bandwagon but I wanted to trial out the products so I could add in a mini review of each.
I was lucky enough to be sent the September box for free to see what I thought and I was incredibly impressed with what was inside! By far my favourite item in the box is the HD Brow Kit, a full size product. Inside is a compact mirror, a mini applicator and four intensely pigmented shadows. Not only is this perfect for filling in eyebrows, it can also be used as an eyeshadow quad or as liners. love,love,love.
I did end up giving away the Plum fragrance sample, purely because I'm not a fan of perfume but my mum certainly enjoyed having it to chuck in her handbag. Another great product in this months GlossyBox was the Loreal Professional Mystic Oil, something I'd never think of using normally. I pop this on the ends of my hair, leave it to air dry and the result is smoother, soft hair - not at all greasy like I'd anticipated.
The last two products were a multi-use oil by Nuxe for hair, body or face and a StriVectin-SD eye concentrate cream. I know most people my age can't be fussed with eye creams but I don't want to end up looking like a bulldog at 50 so I think it's important to keep delicate areas well moisturised. The oil, although it can be used anywhere is slightly too strong smelling for my liking so I just use it on my nails as a cuticle oil.
Overall, I'd of been happy to pay £10.00 (+p&p) for this months box and will be signing up as soon as I figure out how to do so on the website!
http://www.glossybox.co.uk/

Monday 12 September 2011

Favourite Nude Lipsticks


Top: Mac Myth Bottom: Natural Collection Apple Blossom

I have loved nude lips ever since the trend came around a few years back. Embarrassingly so I was one of those girls that used to apply foundation to my lips. Not the greatest look, very drying and I don't advise it but I didn't know any better at the time. I had tried the highly talked about Gosh 'Darling' and Barry M 'Marshmellow' and neither worked well for me, the colours were unflattering and they were either too drying or so waxy they separated on my lips. Finally, I discovered my hands down favourite lipstick after a mention on YouTube, Natural Collection 'Apple Blossom' a gorgeous pink toned, pale nude - the perfect shade for me. Not only is it a beautiful colour, it's also a moisturising formula, creamy, pigmented, glossy, has good staying power - and it's only £1.99. The only downside is a few of mine have snapped off or melted slightly so you have to be a bit more delicate with these.

My other firm favourite has only been recently discovered and that's Mac 'Myth' - a satin finish, peach toned nude that has a gorgeous vanilla scent. Although it's slightly more expensive at £13.50 it does offer better packaging and has more of a luxury feel.

What's your favourite nude lipstick?

recent purchases.


1. Nars Sheer Glow Foundation 2. Estee Lauder Double Wear - repurchase. 3. Mac 'Myth'. 4. Natural Collection 'Apple Blossom'. 5. Loreal Anti-Shine Mattifying Primer. 6. Loreal Super Liner 7. Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express Mascara 8. TRESemme Hair Repair Mask 9. Soleil Tan De Chanel
I also picked up a Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil, Maybelline Pure Liquid Mineral Foundation, Maybelline Dream Matte Powder, YSL Rouge Volupte in 'Nude Beige', Loreal Telescopic Mascara, Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara, Collection 2000 Super Size Mascara, Collection 2000 Cream Puff in 'Powder Puff', Batiste for Brunettes - currently half price, NYC Lip Stains, some lovely shoe boots from New Look & numerous items of clothing from H&M - a firm favourite at the moment.
Let me know if you want to see a review on any of the items mentioned!

Sunday 4 September 2011

YSL Rouge Volupte ' Nude Beige '


A few days ago I was rushing through Debenhams on a mission to solely pick up one
YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick in the shade 'Pink Caress' for my '700 Followers Giveaway' winner. Of course once I'd seen the Rouge Volupte's up close in all their golden, embellished glory I was easily swayed to pop one on the counter for myself, fork over £44 and scarper off with my purchases.

The shade I decided on for myself was 'Nude Beige - 1' although I was torn between a peachy/coral and a vibrant glossy red as well. I think my choice was very safe but I wanted to be sure my £22 would be spent on a lipstick I'd actually wear! I definitely wont keep this in my bag as an everyday item, I'll save this for nights out and special occasions purely because of the price.

The packaging is stunningly beautiful, oozes luxury and has a lovely fruity scent, as well as the colour being gorgeous and having a glossy, moisturising finish - a welcomed addition to my lipstick collection!