Liz Earle Daily Essentials Kit Review

A skin care brand that probably everyone has heard of is Liz Earle, especially their Cleanse and Polish which everyone and their mother seems to rave about. According to a lot of people their cleanser is one of the best out there and possibly one of the most popular products ever, I can understand why considering it contains Rosemary, Chamomile, Cocoa Butter and Eucalyptus Essential Oils; all amazing things for the skin. 

Daily Essentials Kit

Last month I decided that I needed to get into a good skincare routine, in all honestly I have never been one of these people that has been super into taking care of the skin which is probably why my skin isn't in the best condition. 

I had heard that Liz Earle products mainly focused on those that had normal to oily skin therefore I decided it was time to splash out, originally I had only planned on going into Boots and picking up the cleanse and polish however I spotted the Daily Essentials Kit which also had the Gentle Face Exfoliator, Instant Boost Skin Tonic and the Skin Repair for Normal/Combination skin considering it was only £45 for all I decided to bite the bullet and just pick it up much to the dismay of my bank balance. 

In the evening the Cleanse & Polish is so good for removing makeup, even removing all of my Roller Lash mascara which is an absolute pain to get off. I apply the cleanser twice once to remove all of my makeup and then to make sure that the skin is thoroughly cleansed through I then take it off with the Liz Earle Hot Cloth (included) which is so soothing on the face, so much better than using a cotton wool pad. After that I apply a tiny bit off the exfoliator only focusing it on the areas that need it the most so mainly my chin and around the noise. I then wash that off with my hands. Once all of that is off I apply a small amount of the skin tonic onto a cotton wool pad and just put it around the face to remove any excess make up that I may have missed. Finally I apply the Skin Repair all over the face. The rose scent that runs through all of these products makes them so much easier to apply to the face

For the morning I will just apply the Cleanse and Polish to wash my face and then apply the Skin Tonic afterwards to brighten up the face. I don't use the skin repair because I find it's a bit too heavy in the morning and I prefer something lighter to go underneath my foundation. A major thing I have noticed since using all of these products is how much easier my foundation now goes onto my face because my face is now so much cleaner it means the foundation now just glides on. 

Since using it I honestly think my skin has felt a lot cleaner, it has cleared up my skin quite considerably as well. I would definately recommend the Daily Essential Kit however if you are on a tight budget I would recommend Cleanse and Polish as its amazing and definitely one that is worth it especially if you have considerably oily skin. 

Hope you enjoyed this, let me know your favourite skin care products? 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade Review

The Night Out Eyebrows

So about a week and a half ago I bought a new brow product... shocker I know. I had been using the Brow Wiz previous to buying this however I had just ran out. As much as I loved the Brow Wiz I went through it super quickly. I had heard so much about the Dipbrow and having been a massive lover of anything Anastasia Beverly Hills I decided to try it out. 

Lets start with the packaging, the packaging is very similar to the mac paint pots, maybe a tiny bit smaller. The pot is made from glass so probably not ideal if you are travelling around a lot. To look at it's beautiful with the words 'Anastasia Beverly Hills' going around the clear glass. The lid is made from plastic with the Anastasia logo on the top. In all honesty I think the packaging really sells this product a lot more than the Brow Wiz.

The product itself... for such a small pot there is a lot of product. When I opened it up it looks exactly like a gel liner, pretty scary huh. I was a little terrified at how I was going to apply it especially considering I have the second darkest shade Ebony. The thing with this is that you need very little product, the smallest amount will go a long way so what I did was I got a little bit on my Zoeva 317 Wing Liner brush and put the product onto the back of my hand to make sure there wasn't any excess. Once I had the right amount of product on my brush I applied it to my eyebrows. I think the best way to use this product is to start with the back of your eyebrows and work forward because you need hardly any product at the front.

The dipbrow is perfect if you have nicely groomed brows however if you have unruly brows it problem isn't the best because it can make you look as though you have slugs on your face... as I figured out. Last week I got my brows waxed at Benefit and when I applied the product to my brows that evening I found it went on so much easier with less hair. This product is definitely the best if you want well defined brows.

As mentioned above I have shade Ebony as I have jet black hair, although I think that this colour maybe slightly too dark for me which is why I don't apply much product at all. I'm hoping it will last me till I go back to America in June when I can go into Sephora and check out all of the shade ranges first hand... so much easier than seeing it online.

Have you tried the Dipbrow I would love to hear your opinions on it?

How Much Is My Night Out Face Worth?

FOTN

Mac Studio Fix Foundation - £21.50

Wake Me Up Concealer - £5.49

Mac Studio Finish Concealer - £15.50

Mac Studio Fix Powder - £21.50

Nars Virtual Domination Palette - £45

Anastasia Contour Kit - £39

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish - £23

Anastasia Brow Wiz - £15.50

Maybelline Brow Draw - £4.99

L'oreal Super Liner - £6.49

Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes Mascara - £17.76

Benefit Roller Lash (I only have the mini version but full size is) £19.50

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner - £3.99

Mac Lipstick - £15.50

Total: £254.22

When I saw how much it came to I was honestly pretty shocked. Whilst I know that I use mostly high end products and there are certainly cheaper alternatives that may be just as good if not in some cases better however I trust these products and know that they work for me. I think that this is probably more important than finding a cheap alternative just because it could mean saving a couple of pounds. 

The only thing that really justifies the amount of money is the fact that this is my 'night out' make up and therefore I wouldn't use this many products every day. While I product use similar products and maybe some of the same, I just wouldn't use as many. 

Whilst on this list I have included two face palettes, this is because I use a couple of products from each of them. It is easier than mentioning them separately and also quite possibly cheaper. From The Nars Virtual Domination palette I use Laguna and Sex Fantasy while in the Anastasia Contour Kit I use Banana, Java and Fawn. 

I think by looking at this it is clear that I have quite the obsession with MAC. As you can tell they are my favourite make up brand. 

I'm interested to see how much your face costs, let me know? 

5 Product Face Tag

On some lazy days, I'm just not in the mood for a full face of make up, therefore I thought I would combine my lazy day make up routine with the five product face tag. 

No matter what I'm doing I will always pick Mac Studio Fix Foundation, this foundation gives a matte full coverage finish and it is great for when the skin isn't looking that great. With this foundation because its full coverage there isn't always the need for concealer therefore taking one product out of consideration. 

The next product is for multi use which is the Hoola Bronzer, I'm including this because it can be used to bronze up the face but also for eyeshadow. I am loving bronzer for eyeshadow right now because of how matte it is. The bronzer adds depth to the eyes whilst still looking minimal. Next we have a new favourite which is Benefit's Roller Lash mascara (review can be found here) - I am so in love with this thing it gives thick full lashes within a couple of layers. I have the mini version however I will soon be buying the full sized version because this is honestly the best mascara I have ever used. Another product that I couldn't live without is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Ebony, this is my holy grail and I couldn't be without it. It is the best brow product I have ever used. 

Finally my favourite lipstick ever which is Mac Velvet Teddy, I use this lipstick every single day and I absolutely love it. I makes me lips look bigger than they actually are and finishes off the minimal look in the best way.

What are the 5 products you couldn't live without? 

Super Facialist By Una Brennan Review

What I know about skin care could be written on the back of my hand, therefore before purchasing this I did some research. A couple of weeks ago I got an allergic reaction after using a product. Usually my skin doesn't react badly to products however this time it did. My upper lip, chin and around my nose completely broke out and therefore I was in need of a miracle.

So after doing a bit of research I heard a lot of being mentioning face oils, I can honestly say that I would have never thought about putting a face oil on, mainly because my skin is incredibly oily already and the thought of putting oil on top of it honestly confused me.

Well... however a week later and I can say I would recommend a face oil even for the oilest of skins. I think that its important to make sure that your skin is well looked after; something I didn't do before a couple of weeks ago. The oil smells like oranges and its a scent you're either going to love or hate. I can honestly say I love it. Its not particularly strong and overpowering therefore its bearable.

With this oil all you need to do is pop a couple drops onto your hands and then rub you hands onto your make up removed dry skin. Once you have rubbed it all over you then need to be a warm flannel and place it onto your face and slowly wash away all of the oil.

There is only one downside to this product and its getting it out. I find on more than one occasion that I'm having to be careful with how much product I pour out because its so easy to tip too much out therefore I think there needs to something in order to stop too much of it from leaking.

I hope you enjoyed this review.

That Red Lip

I used to be the person that would always wear some sort of bright lip however a red was never one of them. I recently bought Russian Red by MAC whilst in New York and I can officially say that I have been converted. 

While for an everyday look it is very hard for me to stray away from my beloved Velvet Teddy however if I'm going out for an evening I will no longer reach for my favourite nude but now my favourite red. 

Russian Red is a classic matte red. A matte lipstick is so important when it comes to red because you need it to last and this is exactly what it does. Alongside this underneath I put my Exaggerate full colour lip liner in Red Diva by Rimmel. Which I can honestly say isn't particularly drying which is why its my favourite combination at the moment. This lip liner is more of a berry red than a classic bright red although I wear this lip liner for the longevity more than making it brighter. I can honestly say that this lipstick lasts 10 times longer with lipliner especially reds because they have the habit of bleeding which is never a good look. 

If you are looking for a classic red I always think that MAC do the best red shades although I am a big fan of Rimmel 107 which works just as well I find. 

What's your favourite red lip combo? 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit Review

Contour Kit Review

I'm not one to buy something purely due to the hype of it... however I caved. Throughout the month of January I promised myself that I wouldn't buy anymore clothes therefore I decided I would just spend the money buying expensive make up instead, that's aloud isn't it?

I first actually saw this when I was in New York and I must say its a lot smaller than I thought it would be. When I saw this palette it was nearing the end of my trip so I promised myself I wouldn't buy anymore make up. Although last week when I got paid I decided it was time to just bite the bullet so I bought the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in Light and I can honestly say I have never been happier with a purchase.

So in my last blog post Bronzers and Highlighters (link can be found here) I mentioned that I hadn't tried it out however since then I have been using it everyday.

On the top row you have Vanilla, Banana and Sand. Vanilla and Banana are both matte highlights while Sand a lovely shimmer to it. Vanilla and Sand both have pink undertones to them while Banana has more of a yellow undertone. My favourite of the top row has to be Vanilla I love it for an inner eye and below the brow highlight, its the perfect shade.

On the bottom row you have Java, Fawn and Havana each of them wonderful matte shades. I have been using Java to bronze up my entire face it think its the perfect bronzer for me at the moment. I apply it with a Real Techniques blusher brush. Fawn is definitely the colour I will be using in the summer because its a little bit dusky which is perfect with a glow.

Now even though this is a contour kit I have actually been using Havana as an eyeshadow shade and I absolutely love it. I have noticed recently how a lot of Bloggers and YouTubers have been using bronzer as an eye shadow and I will have to agree its great.

These palette is incredibly pigmented with colours lasting all day. I would honestly recommend it as I think its great for every day use especially if you're a big fan of contouring.

All views are my own and this was bought with my own money.

Bronzers and Highlighters

There was once a time when I wouldn't go anywhere near Bronzers or Highlighters but fast forward a couple of years a seem to have gathered a little collection.

One of my favourites has to be the Sleek Contouring and Blush Palette as you can see from above this palette has certainly been well loved. This was the first bronzer I got and I can honestly I must have worn it everyday for about 6 months. I do see occassionally go back to this when I'm feeling a not so heavy make up look. If you are looking for a high street bronze and highlight this is the one get.

Another high street product is the Bourjois Délice de Poudre. I only actually bought this not too long ago when Boots had a 3 for 2 offer on and after seeing everyone go on about it I decided to jump on the bandwagon. I must say it smells amazing but I'm not too keen on the actual product at the moment purely due to how pale I am. I have it in shade 55 as I'm pretty sure this one only comes in one shade. I think this product is certainly a lot better when you have a tan. I'm definitely going to be using this in the summer.

If you've been reading my blog for a while you will know a lot about my next product which is Benefit - Hoola Bronzer. Which was featured in my Everyday Make Up (here) I honestly can't recommend this bronzer enough, it is by far the best bronzer I have ever used. It is perfect for every skin tone and as someone who is pretty pale it is perfect as it doesn't make me look orange in the slightest which is a must for me.  This bronzer is perfect whether you want an all over bronze or just something to contour your face. 

I've got to include a Mac product somewhere haven't I. I have the Mineralize Skin Finish in Lightscapade. This is my favourite highligher at the moment and I have been using this everyday for quite some while. This is perfect for my pastly skin, it gives the tops of your cheeks the subtle glow that you need. The highlighter does look a bit strange which blue, orange and pink running through it however I just swirl this around on my brush and lightly dust it onto my face. 

Finally two new palettes that have come into my hands recently are of course Nars Virtual Domination and Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. The Nars palette has the very famous Laguna Bronzer which I absolutely love I find it very similar to the Benefit one where I can either use it for an all over bronze or just to contour. The highlight in the Nars palette is Miss Liberty Highlighting Blush Powder, this hightlighter is absolutely stunning with gorgeous sparkles running through it, amazing for a glow. The Anastasia Contour Kit is something I haven't actually had the chance to try yet however once I do there will be a review on it. I can't wait to try it out tomorrow. 

What are your favourite bronzers and highlights, let me know?

January Favourites

I am struggling to comprehend the fact that January is almost over. So I guess its time to round up my favourites throughout the month. 

Beauty

Mac Studio Fix Powder - NW20 

This product is a new holy grail for me. Since buying this in New York at the end of December I can officially say its a firm favourite. I can't honestly recommend this product enough, you can wear its on its own or with foundation. I love using this alongside my Studio Fix Foundation as its so high coverage. I think this going to be a favourite for a few more months yet.

Wake Me Up Concealer - 010 Ivory 

In my updated every day make up routine I said that I used my Collection one every day however that has changed. I have been meaning to try this for so long and when I saw it in Boots I just had to get it. I think this concealer is a little bit more water based than the collection one. I would recommend this one for under the eyes. I honestly think its really similar to the Nars creamy concealer. Its an amazing price and one I would definitely recommend picking up

Zoeva 102 - Silk Finish

I hate to admit it but my beloved Real Technique buffing brush has been replaced by this little one. I love all of my Zoeva brushes but this is definitely my favourite it makes blending foundation so easy and quick. This one leaves no brush marks on the face and no hairs escaping from the brush which was happening with my buffing brush.

Nars Sex Fantasy Blush

How could I do a January favourites without mentioning my absolute favourite palette. Sex Fantasy is part of the Virtual Domination palette and I can honestly say its a new favourite. I must admit I do still switch it up between this and Nars Orgasm as an old favourite. I think this blush goes great with the Benefit Hoola Bronzer. Sex Fantasy is such a lovely baby pink colour and of course with being Nars its amazingly pigmented. I honestly can't recommend Nars blushers enough, there is honestly nothing that compares to it.

Beauty Favourites

Skincare 

Micellar Cleansing Water

This has been a firm favourite for a good couple of months. This is seriously the best thing to remove your make up with. I love this because its so gentle on the skin and is possibly the first make up remover that hasn't broke me out. Its only costs about £4 and lasts for ages. I honestly would not stop purchasing this.

Fashion

Topshop Denim Jacket 

I bought this a few months ago but however before Christmas is raining too much for me to wear it however since its the rain has seemed to calm down, well at least down here it has. I have been wearing this almost everyday. Its so warm and comfy, I think a black leather jacket is a must and I'm so in love I can't rave about it enough.

Topshop MOTO Black Super Ripped Jamie Jeans

For the past month my legs have been rather cold, which is all thanks to these Topshop jeans. I love how go can dress these up or just wear them with a pair of boots. Alongside that they are super comfortable I have to admit that these night be replacing my Joni Jeans.

The ultimate jeans 

I hope you enjoyed my favourites. University interviews start this week so I sincerely apologise for not updating as regularly. Anyway I hope you have a wonderful week.

Everyday Makeup Routine

This is my third daily make up routine I have done since starting this blog 18 months ago. My two previous looks are here and here. I have to admit I absolutely love this make up. From day to day I do sometimes mix up but this is what I will usually wear to college and work.

Make Up Favourites. 

I think the first thing I need to mention is the change in my make up brushes. I got the Zoeva Rose Gold Brushes for Christmas and I absolutely love them. While from time to time I still do use my real technique ones these are what I reach for on a daily basis. My favourite brush has got to be the 102 silk finish, this brush makes it so easy to apply foundation as the foundation soaks into the brush it makes applying an absolute dream.

For just everyday I don't usually bother using a primer as its a bit unnecessary although if I do use it I will use the Benefit Porefessional. For base I use MAC Studio Fix in the shade NW13 with my two concealers Collection Lasting Perfection in Light & Studio Finish concealer in NC15. The Collection one is great for redness while the MAC is very bright so I use it under my eyes.

For the rest of my face I use a MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC20. This is a new product that I only bought a couple of weeks ago in New York but I have to admit its my favourite powder ever as it gives your make up such a flawless finish. To contour I use my favourite ever bronzer which is Hoola by Benefit.  It such a great colour and so easy to blend. While for blush I have used the same blusher for the past 18 months which is Nars Orgasm. This product is defintely my holy grail and I've only just hit pan which shows you just how long its lasted me for. Finally I like to finish off with my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade which is the perfect highlight. 

For eyes I have switched from my Naked 2 palette that I still love to my Lorac Pro. I have been lusting after this product like every other blogger and their mother but since it's pretty pricey and hard to get hold of I kindly asked my brother to get it for me for Christmas, If anyone is intrested in buying it Amazon sell it but make sure you buy it on the American Amazon as its a lot cheaper. I love this palette because it has the same amount of matte and shimmer shades. I have to admit I am more of a matte lover myself so eight matte shades is amazing. My two favourite shades are Mauve and Pewter.  

My favourite part of my make up to do is my brows I just need to make sure that they look perfect (or as close to perfect eyebrows can be) I recently bought Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, I got it in shade Ebony and its a perfect match. I am so late to this Brow Wiz hype but its so good better than anything I've used before. On to eyeliner and it's something I don't wear everyday but sometimes I will just use it by itself and for these occasions I will use my L'oreal liner which is so easy to apply and looks great. For mascara I still stick to my trusty L'oreal Miss Manga although I have bought a Tarte mascara which I will start using once I finish using this one. 

Finally onto lipstick and back to MAC again. I have been wearing Sour lipliner and the Velvet Teddy lipstick most days since November. Although lipstick is one thing I will change up quite a lot especially for college. If I do change it i'll go for something a little bit more daring like MAC's Russian Red or Rebel. However for work I will always wear Velvet Teddy because its something neutral and truthfully its the only lipstick that will last the entire shift.

I would love for you to recommend some of your make up favourites that I should try. 

The Kylie Jenner Look

Last week I managed to get hold of Mac's Soar and Velvet Teddy. They have been sold out everywhere for forever. I think they must be Mac's most popular products along with their lip liner. Whirl (another Jenner favourite). In case you have been living under a rock in the beauty world you will know that Soar is the lip liner that Kylie Jenner uses. This smoking 90s look has been come incredibly popular since Kylie Jenner has been pictured wearing this look almost daily for months. It is that 90s model look that everybody is after right now. 

The lipstick is of a matte finish, it is the first matte lipstick I own from Mac while Soar is the first ever lipliner I have bought. Soar has a pink tone to it while Velvet Teddy is much more your brown/nude shade. I think they complement each other very well. I would say that it is your own lips but 200 times better. One thing I have to say about this combo is that they are incredibly long lasting. I think this definitely is because they are of a matte finish. 

Having used a lot of matte lipsticks in the past I thought that they would have been very similar to the drug store ones I have used. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were a lot thicker however still easy to apply. Although why a lot of people have said that Mac's matte lipsticks aren't drying however I felt as though it was drying although this has probably got something to do with the fact that I already have slightly dry lipsticks. I think that if you had very dry lips then this lipstick wouldn't be suitable. I think both of these products are great because you can either wear them on their own or together.

However I would recommend everyone to try them because I think they would suit any skin tone.

Is this Kylie Jenner lip something you would try? 

September favourites

I can't contemplate the fact that September is already over and that in only two months Christmas will be on its way. Anyhow I thought I would round off September nicely with a bunch of favourites. I feel like September is the month where all the summer clothes get thrown into the back of the wardrobe and out come the boots & scarves. Anyhow lets get started...

High Street make up favourites. 

My first favourite has to be my Rimmel - Wake Me Up foundation, I adore this foundation so so much. I think the coverage is great as it doesn't look too cakey. The amount of shades is amazing and the price is none to shabby either. 

L'oreal Superliner - I had been using the Soap & Glory supercat liner for ages but I wanted to try something a little bit different, I really wanted something to do a thinner line. I had heard Tanya Burr talk about this liner for absolutely ages so I thought I would try it out... and omg I'm so glad I did. It's so easy to apply and gives you a great winged look... onto a winner. 

L'oreal Miss Manga Mascara - I've heard mixed reviews about this mascara but I really wanted to try something which wasn't Maybelline. To start with I hated this mascara. I thought it wasn't very thick and did nothing to them. However after hearing from Gabby (velvetgh0st) about how you should apply lots of coats of this. I did that and now its a favourite! 

Next up would have a be Mac - New York Apple. I'm one of these people that will break out the berry lips as soon as possible. Dark red is my absolute favourite shade to wear on my lips. There are so many shades that you can choose from however this one isn't too dark to start the season off with. 

This denim jacket from Pretty Little Thing is one of only two jackets I had been wearing throughout September. I have always loved denim jackets however never actually felt the need to buy one until I saw this one, which I am completely in love with. 

Another of the jackets I have been wearing is this duster kimono from Topshop. I love this because it isn't particular heavy therefore I can wear it for Autumn as it isn't too thick. I love the fact that its black because that means that I can pair it with almost everything. 

This is probably the weirdest favourite I have ever done. But Fanta Zero has become my one true love. I hardly drink anything other than Juice and Water day to day, however I am now loving the fact that they do a Zero Fanta, which means I can drink it more often and not have to worry about it seriously rotting my teeth. 

Lastly I have to do a favourite person for the month. This month I have been seriously obsessed with Zoe's vlogs. (zoella, incase you were wondering...probably not) I'm not sure what it is but I find her vlogs so fascinating, it's probably got something to do with the fact that she has such a unique life. I would just also to say congrats to Zoe on Zoella Beauty; everything from the range looks absolutely amazing and I can't wait to try them... once they are back in stock. 

10 Happy Things

I said I was going to make this a weekly thing, however two weeks have passed since my previous 10 Happy Things blogpost so I think I'm going to cut it down to every month! Maybe thats a good thing though considering my life isn't all that exciting.

Freshers night out. 

1. Freshers Week. It really isn't my thing to go out every weekend but I did go out during freshers week and it was so much fun which surprised me a lot.

2. Downton Abbey. Need I explain more, Nope

3. Gogglebox. There seems to be a theme running through this blog post. Does this show you the excitement of my life.

4. Payday. Basically the most exciting day of the month. Money. Money. Money.

5. Berry Lipsticks. Autumn also known as when Berry lipsticks come out to play. New York Apple & Rebel from Mac are my absolute favourites.

6. University Open Days - Next week I have my first open day and I'm so excited for the fact I could be off to University next year and hopefully achieve all of my dreams.

7. Movie Nights. Being a film student must mean we like films, so movie nights with my friends is a regular occurrence.

8. The Guest. That ending???? Yes I like films. Problem. I thought not.

9. Friends. Talking to one of my best friends who lives in New Zealand is so great (when we have the time)

10. Online Shopping. This is something I never ever do but Missguided have some amazing stuff right now & the student discount is always good as well.

College Days.

Apparently it's officially autumn considering it was the first day I have worn a pair of tights. Today was a normal college day but I thought I would blogged my outfit. I am absolutely in love with my oversized denim jacket, it's so comfy and goes with everything. Also I have to mention my 'geek shoes' I wasn't too sure what I thought of these shoes to start with but that have been growing on me in the past week as thats all i've worn. 

This skirt that I got from Topshop I actually brought it the Tall section even though i'm only 5ft 3. This skirt is still very short on me, so I can't image how short one in the petite section would be. I love this skirt for an everyday look because you can pair it with a longer top as well as a short crop top.

In my autumn wardrobe I kinda have this continuing theme running through it of black/white & grey, I think its time I went shopping and added a bit of colour to it. However as I say you can never have too much black.

Denim Jacket - Pretty Little Thing

Top - New Look

Skirt - Topshop (not online but should be instore)

Shoes - Primark 

Bag - New Look

Lipstick Revlon & Mac

My Everyday Makeup Routine

So for the past two months or so I have been using the exact same everyday makeup routine, therefore I thought I would share with you the products I use.

To prime my skin I have been using Nivea Daily Essential Day Cream for normal to combination skin, I really love this moisturiser because it doesn't leave the skin feeling too sticky which has happened with my previous moisturisers. Next off I use my Body Shop primer 'Insta Blur' this is my favourite drugstore primer, I wouldn't say its as good as Benefit's 'The Porefessional' but I really love this. I apply both of these using my hands.

Next off for foundation I have two which I have been loving, the foundation I use almost all the time is my Revlon Colourstay for Oily Skin in Ivory. This foundation is probably the closest thing to my Mac Studio Fix I would go as far to say it is most probably a very accurate dupe. This foundation is medium to full coverage. It's amazing for my skin because it can get oily patches however this foundation seems to combat it. When I fake tan I use my Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation in True Ivory, this foundation does have a bit of a shine to it therefore when I wear this I do have to powder afterwards with my Stay Matte. To apply my foundations I have been using my Real Techniques 'Duo Fibre Face Brush.

For concealer I have two I use on a day to day basis. The first one I use is that one drugstore concealer that I think nearly everyone owns; my trusty collection lasting perfection concealer in shade 1. I love this concealer so much its quite creamy and therefore high coverage, it's really good for dark circles which as a student is very much appreciated. When I wear my Wake Me Up foundation I do still stick to my lasting perfection concealer however I do use shade 2 then. The other concealer that I use is my Mac Studio Finish concealer in NC15, again this concealer is very creamy and high coverage, however this concealer is great for covering any redness which is the reason I brought it. To apply my concealer I use my 'Real Techniques Contour Brush'

Next up for eyeshadow the only product I have been using of late is my Mac paintpot in 'Paintely.' I love Mac paintpots and this one is especially good to hide any veins and redness. This paintpot can also be used as a primer under other eyeshadows. When it comes to eyeliner I very rarely use it however if I do I use my Soap & Glory 'Supercat' this eyeliner is great for a winged look.

Next up I bronze my face using my Hoola Bronzer, using my Real Techniques Powder Brush. I like to give myself more of a bronze face because my Revlon Foundation is still a little dark for me right now.

Eyebrows. This is literally my most important part of my make up routine. To do my eyebrows I use Soap & Glory Brow Archery in Brunette and I use the pen tip end. I have to say that it is my favourite product to do my brows with and I have tried so many brow products. On top of that I use my Maybelline Brow Drama in dark brown just to keep my eyebrows in place.

Finally for mascara I use L'oreal Miss Manga Mega Volume in Black Angel.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my everyday makeup!

My small but growing Mac lipstick collection

Hello, I thought I would post today my (small) Mac lipstick collection. I brought my first Mac lipstick in January and ever since then I have been loving them. I don't own that many Mac lipsticks however with my collection growing I thought I would show the ones that I do have.

1. Snob

I absolutely love this colour, this shade is definitely my everyday colour. This is the closest anyone will ever get to a nude colour with me. I love bright lipsticks therefore this colour is actually really subtle for me. It has a blue undertone therefore I think that this lipstick would be great for every skin tone. If you want sometime for everyday that is a big brighter than the average nude then this is the colour. Snob is a satin finish which is my favourite finish. I love the look it gives because it looks very similar to the matte finish ones how it isn't as drying, which is always a plus. 

2. Girl About Town

Now this is one I brought a couple weeks back and I love how it looks on the lips. The colour is bright but nothing too scary. This is one of Mac's best selling lipsticks and the majority of Mac lipstick owners probably own it. The finish for this one is amplified creme which means because its so creamy its very easy to apply to the lips. I think that this lipstick is very build-able due to how pigmented it is. Due to the lipstick being so creamy it does only last about two hours before it does need topping up again however for a longer lasting finish, I would think putting a lip liner underneath it is probably the best thing to do as the liner will make it long lasting. 

3. Kelly Yum Yum

I can admit the only reason I got this lipstick was because it was limited edition... yeah I wouldn't advise that. However this lipstick is such an amazing colour, it is incredibly thick yet when its on the lips it doesn't feel drying in the slightest. (again because its satin) If you are looking for a colour that will make your lips pop then this is definitely the colour. I think that this lipstick is great for every skin tone due to it again having blue undertones. However what you will notice if you are a Mac lover is that this colour is insanely similar to Candy Yum Yum, I think KYY may be a tad bit brighter but there is very little difference in it. Therefore if you already own CYY it is probably best you avoid this lipstick, unless you are obsessed with the purple packaging. 

4. New York Apple

New York Apple is probably my least favourite of the Mac lipsticks I have. It is a frost finish and if I'm honest I'm not to keen on that. This lipstick is very shimmery therefore it doesn't look very pigmented you have to apply a couple of coats of this to make it look as though you have a dark colour on your lips. I think if you want to start getting into the darker colours then this one would be a great one to start with because it isn't very heavy and not too scary. However this lipstick is very long lasting and only needs a top up after a couple of hours of wear. 

5. Rebel

Now this is bar far my favourite lipstick. I absolutely love the colour and finish of this one. Again this is a satin finish. (I think I have a problem) For this lipstick I would definitely use a lip liner underneath it, purely because it is quite hard to apply due to the finish and the colour. If you want a dark winter lipstick I think this is a good bold choice because it's a shade that will never get old. However with the darker lipsticks I think they don't necessarily suit every skin tone therefore if you are fair I think you have to be careful with this one. 

I hope you enjoyed this one. :-) 

Naked 2 and Nars blush

Wow so summers nearly over, well for me anyway. I have one full week left and then off to college. Anyway this has been my post holiday reflection week. However here's a review of the two make up products I brought in America.

This was the first time I had brought make up in America which wasn't Mac, I discovered my love for Mac when I went to New York 2 years ago. Back to present time and before I went to Florida I knew that there were two products I had to buy.

The first product I have here is the Naked 2 palette.

Over the past couple of years I have heard so many reviews for not only the Naked 2 palette but the first one and the basic palette. I knew I had to get this because I hadn't heard a bad review. When I went over to the women selling it to me, she said how I was lucky it was in stock because it's normally always sold out which was a relief because I didn't really want to be searching round Florida for it. Here is what the palette includes:

Foxy- Cream w/ matte finish 

Half Baked- Golden/Bronze- mainly gold w/ shimmery finish 

Bootycall- Cork w/ slight shimmer 

Chopper- Copper w/ shimmery 

Tease- Brown/Purple undertones w/ matte finish 

Snakebite- Brown-very dark w/ shimmery finish & metallic base

Suspect- Slightly darker than beige w/ golden shimmery finish 

Pistol- Grey w/ shimmery finish

Verve- tint of pink neutral w/ loads of shim to give it a great finish 

YDK- bronze shimmer w/ metallic base

Busted- Very dark brown w/ shimmery finish

Blackout- Black w/ matte finish - perfect for eyeliner 

While I don't have the first Naked palette I know it's a lot darker than the Naked 2 palette therefore that palette is better if you want to have more smoky eyes. Naked 2 has a lot more neutral shades which can be explored if you mix a couple shades up. My favourite two to mix are Tease and Suspect I love both of these colours with starting with a matte base and then building up to a shimmery finish. I think that if you're going to invest in a Naked palette then you either need to get the 1st or 2nd. At home we also have the Naked basic palette (although it isn't mine) I personally don't think it's that good because it only has the basic colours and I think it's better if you're just starting out using eyeshadow. However then I wouldn't buy a high end product if it was my first time. 

I know that this palette is a lot of money at £37.00 I do think it's worth it however MUA do a dupe that is very similar to the Naked 2 which is only £5. It has all the similar colours but they aren't as good as the Naked palette for obvious reasons but if you want to try out something that is similar to the Naked palette then MUA is the best one to get. 

The second product that I brought was Nars blush in the shade orgasm. 

I am a lover of all blushers so I thought I would try out this one, it's the one that every youtuber has raved about at one point or another. 

The colour is a bit different to what I expected it to be like, I had imagined it to be more pink but it has a nice peach tone to it, making it more subtle. The product isn't too heavy with an shimmery base to it which is nice because it gives the face a fresh look which is unusual when it comes to comparing it to something like Mac. Although it isn't as shimmery as super orgasm which is the next shade up. What I love about this blush is how pigmented it is, there is no chance of it fading throughout the day. 

Sephora has said many times that this is the starter blush and I agree although it is expensive for what it is. I also have the lack of being able to get it in the UK with it only being sold in Selfridges in the UK... which is 4 hours away from me- lets hope that this doesn't run out too soon on me. However in the UK there are a couple of blushes that I know are similar for a smudge of the price. The first dupe is Sleek, for what it is Sleek is very cheap this dupe is only £4.49 like Nars it's pigmented and has that shimmer to it. I think that Sleek is only sold in Boots but it's a popular brand for blushers & bronzers. The other product is Milani Baked Powder Blush, this is the one which is closest to Nars, although because it's an American brand you can only get it on Amazon it is however only £5.00. 

I think both of these products are very good and I would get them both, however there are others like them for a cheaper price.

What do you think of these products?

Is Nars too expensive? 

What other eyeshadows do you think are as good as Urban Decay?

Any high street blushers I should try? 

Until next time

Naomi xoxo