Face of the Month: June 2014

In the month of June I have been going for a more natural look. It doesn't look the best in my selfies but it keeps the cake face to a minimum. Also, this morning I was watching ViviannaDoesMakeup's Make-up Menu and both of those things gave me the idea to start this little series. I tend to change up parts of make-up on a monthly basis. I'm one of those wear-it-until-I-hate-it kind of people therefore I thought a series showing what different make-up looks I've been wearing each month would be fitting. 

Max Factor Face Finity 3 in1 All Day Flawless Foundation and Primer - Maybelline Instant Anti-Age

I have been testing out the Face Finity range because I have heard many good things about it and those things were right. The foundation is completely weightless and keep oil at bay which is all I ask for. I have been using the concealer for quite a while now and I really like it. I much prefer this type of application than a cream concealer or doe foot applicator which always applies too much product on one eye. I apply the foundation with a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and blend the concealer with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush.

Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder - NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder - Chanel De

These are the things that usually always stay the same in my make-up routine. This face powder leaves a nice finish but it isn't amazing however I will finish it up. I just apply this all over in a patting motion. For a long time I couldn't find the raved about NYC "Sunny" Bronzer but when I did find it, I did a little happy dance in the middle of Superdrug. There isn't much to say other than this is excellent and I apply it to the perimeter of my face with a large brush to give me a warm glow and then I use a more precise brush to add definition. This Chanel blush is my absolute favourite. This was given to me by a friend who didn't want it and I have questioned the realness of this many time but it's a good blush nonetheless. I apply this lightly from the back of my cheeks and slightly onto the apple of my cheeks.

Maybelline Brow Drama - L'Oreal Super Liner Brow Artist

This also tends to remain constant and it is the most boring part of doing my make-up. I love the end result of doing your eyebrows but the process never changes. I just apply this in small this with small stroke and brush through my brows to blend the pencil a little. The pencil is good because it isn't too soft meaning you avoid the whole slugs for brows situation. The brow mascara does it's job. Apply to much and you're eyebrows will be left slightly crispy but apply it correctly and it is your best friend.

My eye make-up is the part that changes most often. I have been using this shade to line my eyes at the top and bottom to help achieve the more natural look I was talking about. I either go with this or no eye shadow at all but this is the more preferred option since it opens my eyes up so much more. I apply this by pressing it into the lash line and winging it out a little at the top. I use a Real Techniques Brow Brush for this.

Max Factor Flash Lash Effect Mascara - Maybelline Baby Lips

Finishing touches. I got this mascara in a free with purchase set and I couldn't be happier with this. I apply it after curling my lashes and they stay curled all day. Baby Lips. I love them. I have been applying a thick coat of this and then blotting to achieve a "my lips but better" look. 

 Here is a selfie of this exact make-up look. Au revior mes amis! <3

Favourites So Far :)

Hello :) This may not seem like a lot of favourites to gain in short of 4 months however, most days are minimal school makeup which does not warrant red lips or dark brown eyeshadow. I have quite a few things so I will try and keep everything short and sweet. 

Illamasqua Human Fundamentalism Lipstick in colour Box - £18.50

This lipstick is my favourite red I have ever tried. My staple red lip. It is thick but the finish is beautiful. It doesn't crease on your lips. It doesn't dry out and it is extremely long wearing. I think the longest I had this on was about 5 hours, in which time I ate and only had to dab on a little for a touch up. It is simply brilliant. The perfect red that doesn't make your teeth yellow and I expect it would go with every skin tone.

 L'oreal Infallibe Eyeshadow in colour Goldmine - £6.99

I had heard many excellent things about this product but never got around to buying it until this year and I am so happy I did. It is truly gorgeous. When I swatched it in the shop I almost did a little dance of joy because the colour, pigmentation and shimmer is so stunning. This makes a regular appearance on school days when I want my eyes to stand out but don't have much time. Highly recommend this.

Illamasqua Bronzing Duo in Glint & Writhe - £26

Here we are again, Illamasqua. I adore this product. I use Glint to Highlight and Writhe to add some extra bronze to my face. Glint is a beautiful golden highlight that you can use on many areas of the face. It is extremely subtle and very flattering. Writhe is very warm toned and extremely pigmented which does take some time to work with and blend so you don't look too orange however, the results are gorgeous. This product is basically a sun tan in a compact.

Topshop - £6

I am obsessed with anything daisy/sunflower/floral in earrings and these are the perfect fit. They are a bright yellow that stands out nicely and they are perfect for the spring time.

Locket - £9

I bought this in Sloan's Market in Glasgow a few week ago and I have fallen in love with it's vintage style and art nouveau pendant. I just love it.

Batiste Dry Shampoo - £2.99

I came back to this after trying the Dove dry shampoo and not liking it. Other than quality, this has many more redeeming qualities than the Dove dry shampoo, it is about £2 cheaper, there is more product and it actually keeps your hair looking matte and clean. I would pick this over any other one I have tried.

BLEACH London Silver Shampoo -£5

My saviour. This is amazing. I have been using this for a couple of months and it is the best thing I have ever found for my hair. It does everything it says while leaving your hair extremely soft afterwards. My only criticism is the packaging. Despite my love for this small grungy packaging, it doesn't have a pump or nozzle that dispenses the product nicely in your hand. This bottle just pours out which means the product comes out way to fast and when I first started using it, it went everywhere. However, that doesn't affect the amazing product inside.

MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked - £10

I have had this for a long, long time but for some reason I was slightly disappointed by it in the beginning because it didn't seem as lovely when I applied as in the pictures or YouTube videos but then I rediscovered it after watching a Shop My Stash video with SprinkleofGlitter and Zoella. This is actually a great eyeshadow, one of my daily go-to shadows in fact. With the right primer and a good amount of sandwiching of the product this stays on almost all day. It also blends out wonderfully, making it seem like you've used a separate shade in your crease.

Katy Perry Killer Queen Perfum - £14.99

I received this in a set for Christmas and I have been using it almost every day since. I also own the Moschino perfume in I Love Love but I have only been able to buy it in Tenerife, so I am waiting until the summer months to start using that again.In the mean time, this perfume is just my style. It is a very evening perfume but I wear it to school and going shopping because it's very me. Also, the packaging is super cool and a very nice size to hold in your bag.

Topshop Eyes Duo in Woodland Walk - £6

These eye shadows are better than some of my high end shadows. Topshop has a brilliant cosmetics line. I particularly love their nail polish and lipstick. And now their eye shadow! I have been looking for a dark brown eye shadow for a while now and this is just my perfect shade. It has a hint of gold shimmer which compliments my light blue eyes and blonde hair perfectly. The golden/champagne colour in this duo is perfect for your inner corner and on the lid with a matte crease colour for something quick. In addition to this product's greatness, he two colours mixed together are brilliant, it is very creamy so there minimal fall out and it is very blendable. A+ Topshop!

Au revoir mes amis! :)

Foundation: My Thoughts :)

A suitable foundation routine is something that can take years to perfect. I, myself have not yet perfected it but I think I'm getting there. Also, I was discussing foundation and concealer with a friend and so I decided to make a blog post concerning my experience and knowledge of foundation (also with a cheeky bit of help from the MAC interactive foundation finder). I really enjoy foundation but struggle to find foundation that doesn't make me oily or overly dewy so this  may help those of you with the same problems or for people just unsure of what to be looking for.

Foundation

Rimmel Wake Me Up SPF 15 Foundation in "Classic Beige" - MAC Pro Longwear SPF 10 Foundation in "NC20"

1. Coverage.

You need to decide whether you want sheer, medium or full coverage. However a coverage that is light at first could build up to a medium so try layer to see if the foundation is buildable.

Sheer

Sheer coverage evens out your skin tone however still allows natural features like freckles to still show through and allow you to flaunt your natural beauty while still making you feel a little more comfortable with your skin. So this is perfect if you have good skin or just don't like a lot of make up.

Medium

Medium coverage, often the type of coverage I go for, is still very natural however you can have more control over what is covered for example any blemishes or redness can be covered a lot better with this.

Full

Full coverage will completely cover anything you want to cover and conceal any blemishes, redness and spots you may have. You usually won't need a concealer.

2. Finish

Then you must decide whether you want a satin, natural or matte finish.

Satin

A satin finish has a lot of brightness and has a very dewy finish which I'd say is probably my least preferred out of the three and I definitely wouldn't recommend this if you have oily skin as it does make you look very sweaty and shiny which is not a good look. I also tend to find that this finish can feel very cake-y.

Natural

A natural finish is a good balance between shine and matte. So if you'd still like a bit of a glow but would like to skip the whole dewy part of the look then this is for you. It is also good for everyday wear such as going to work or school. Natural is the finish I usually go for since it pretty much looks like you don't have anything on.

Matte

A matte finish is good if you want something oil controlled or if you are very active or busy. There isn't really much more I can say about a matte finish. I imagine it would probably be a very good night-out foundation since it is oil controlled and it will look a bit more dramatic along with a nice smokey eye. 

3. Shade & Undertone

Shade is about how light or dark your skin is and undertone is about whether you have a more golden or olive tone to your skin rather than a pink or rosy tone.

So if you tan then you'll more likely be golden/olive but if you burn easily then you're more likely pink/rosy. Makeup counters will do a foundation match so there is much less error is shade however with drugstore you really just need to test it on your neck and if it disappears then voila that is your shade.

Primer & Concealer

Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer in "002" - Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in "Soft Beige" 

I always use a primer because it really does help keep my foundation on and, I suppose, act as a layer of protectant for your skin. Primers do make a difference, especially if you have oily skin because you can get mattifying primers. I would recommend the Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro. I have repurchased it about 6 times, that's how much I love it and it's very affordable so good to buy for your first try. I recently bought the Benefit Porefessional Primer and unfortunately, as much as it is a great product and does what it says, it doesn't agree with my foundation. I find it makes my foundation separate around my nose. Maybe if I used a different foundation it would be better but I have yet to try that so, I guess I'll make it work in the meantime.

Concealers are a god send for your under eyes and any blemishes.  I suppose I don't need to go into too much detail about concealers since they're pretty simple. Basically, for under eye concealing you want one that is one shade lighter than your foundation to brighten and for spot treatment you want it to be the same shade so that it doesn't highlight your blemishes. If you want tips on different ways to use concealer I would suggest watching GlamLifeGuru's Five Different Ways To Use Concealer video on youtube. It is excellent. 
I would definitely recommend the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer (pictured) as it is great for under eye concealing, as the name would suggest, and doesn't go cakey whatsoever.

I thought about talking about blush and bronzer but I feel this post would be far too long if I did so maybe that will be in another post someday. 

Au revoir friends :)

My Summer Must Haves and Favourites

As I am writing this I am aware that I am talking to no one however you've got to start somewhere, right?

This very hot day of 22 degrees (which in Scotland is almost unbearable) and the anticipation of going on holiday has given me inspiration to write about and share my summer must haves and favourites.  Most of these products are pretty darn cheap and others are a bit expensive for what they are but hey ho let's get cracking.

Beauty

Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm - MAC "Woodwinked" Eye Shadow - Mac "Embrace Me" Lip Liner - Bourjois "Lilas D'Or" Blush

Now this is my favourite part, I could talk about beauty products all day, especially make up so this part may be a little rambly.

I have started going for the more natural look because in the warm weather I don't want my face feeling clogged with make up so I've started using the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer and no foundation. The products above are the products that I have been using almost everyday. 

After going to Alton Towers two weeks ago and sun burning my lips I thought "I need a good lip balm." and the Burt's Bees lip balm came to mind so I went to boots and found it. As marvelous as it is, I feel that £3.69 is slightly overpriced for the size of it but whatever it is smashing and more than likely I'll buy it again. There is a range of flavours but I chose the pomegranate flavour. I would say that any lip balm is a good choice in summer.

I bought the MAC eyeshadow empty paletter and Woodwinked eye shadow on more of a want than a need. The eye shadow pan was £10 and the duo palette was £6.5o. Woodwinked is a beautiful colour and if you have blue eyes like myself then it is sure to make your eyes pop. I bought the Lip Liner along with a matte lipstick of the same name and colour. I would have to say this is my favourite lipstick but I have been using the lip liner with the Burt's Bees lip most days or just on it's own. 

Lastly, the Bourjois blush is such a lovely colour when applied to the cheeks and great dupe for Nars "Orgasm" Blush. I bought this a while ago when my MUA blush cracked and feel to pieces and it was a good choice so I would definitely recommend this. I believe it was just over £7 in Superdrug.

Hair

Batiste "Tropical" Dry Shampoo - L'Oreal Matt & Messy  Salt Spray

I don't usually bother doing a lot with my hair and more often than not I will let it dry naturally how every the two products (minus the hair washing necessities) I use the reguarly are the Batiste Dry Shampoo and the L'Oreal Matt & Messy Salt Spray. 

Dry shampoo is a god send all year round but I especially love it in the summer. The tropical version smells like Cocoa Butter so that is a nice bonus. The larger cans are £4.99 from Boots.

I like my hair to have a bit of movement and texture so when I heard about salt spray I had to buy one right away. This was the first one I found and it does a pretty good job. I would probably buy a different one next time but just to mix it up a little. This was £3.69 at Boots.

Other beauty bits and bobs

Simple Kind to Eyes Soothing Eye Balm - Soap and Glory Hand Food -  Moschino "I Love Love" Perfume - Beauty Formulas Cooling Mist - Tangle Teezer  

If, like myself you're a bit of a night owl then the Simple Kind to Eyes is great for those tired eyes. I bought it with a deal they had in Boots, something like 3 for 2 I think, and it was a smashing decision. It costs £3.99 from Boots.

Soap and Glory is definitely one of my favourite brands, everything they make smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling so nice. Hand cream is a must have for me in the summer because the heat seems to dry my hands up so I have to carry this everywhere I go and it really does it's job. I paid £5 in Boots.

I recieved the Moschino perfume as a Christmas present and it was bought in Tenerife so I don't know how much this would be in pounds but I think it was in the bracket of 30 to 40 euros. It is very fruity and citrusy which I think is perfect for the summer. I am almost finished the bottle which makes me very sad however I'm sure I'll get another bottle eventually.

The cooling mist is just a small thing to get you through those roasting hot days and nights. I don't remember how much it was since I have only just found it again from last Summer but it's a pretty good buy.

If you suffer from tuggy hair then the tangle teezer is perfect.  It combs through your hair totally painlessly and leaves it feeling silky smooth. These a priced at £10.99 which I think it a little too expensive but they are good so it's worth the price.

Non Beauty

I am all about gold jewellery right now and seeing a set of 3 pairs of earring for £3.90 was a bargain and an amazing find. Then whilst waiting on my mum in BHS I found the necklace above in the sale for £8. 

My sunglasses that I got from urban outfitters broke during my last holiday so I was in need of new ones and when I was in Forever 21 and found these for £4.90 I had to buy them. Especially when my last ones were £14. 

I watched Pineapple Express for the first time last night and I thought it was just hilarious. Plus James Franco's face was a pretty nice bonus to it. 
I was given Will Grayson, Will Grayson as a birthday gift but started reading it in the last few weeks, I'm not very far along but so far it's pretty damn good. 

Oh heck was that a long post. I don't get much chance to ramble about my favourite things without feeling like an annoyance so I think this blog will be a nice new addition to my life.

Cheerio :) x