Showing posts with label sophie tumber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sophie tumber. Show all posts

Thursday, 19 January 2017

MY MAKEUP VANITY.



One of my favourite things to watch on YouTube are other peoples make up collection and storage videos - I'm a bit of an organisational freak and I find things like this really satisfying. I don't have a YouTube channel so I thought I'd write a blog post about my make up collection and storage instead.

Ever since I was a little girl I'd always wanted a dressing table, but for years and years I shared a room with my brother so I could never have one. When we moved into this house and I finally got my bedroom, I wasn't as hugely interested in cosmetics as I am now so I had a desk for my studies instead. It wasn't until after my second year of university that I finally got the dressing table I'd always wanted (I was kindly gifted a dressing table by my fiances Grandmother but it's far too big for my room so it's sat in storage waiting to be used) and that was when my parents surprised me by redecorating my bedroom for when I moved home.

My dressing table is from the Chantilly collection in Argos, and the rest of the furniture in my room matches it. My stool was reupholstered by my Mum after she'd found it at a quaint antiques fair. The dressing table only has one drawer, so I followed suit and found some plastic drawer inserts from Muji to organise my own personal collection (my makeup kit is stored in separate storage).

On top of my dressing table is my gorgeous three way mirror - this is from eBay and was watched by three different accounts to ensure that I would get it. The mirror on the right hand side is a magnifying mirror from Argos, and the fake peonies are from The Range. The pot they are stored in is an old fashioned candy jar from BHS which I used to use to house my make up brushes. On the right hand side of the mirror I have two wicker candle holders from ASDA which I use to house my brushes - one for face brushes and one for eye brushes.





So in the large insert on the far left is my primers and foundations - I don't have many primers and in here I keep my favourite ones. There's usually an Estee Lauder Illuminating Primer but I've run out, so at the moment there's Benefit's That Gal, and Stila One Step Correct which I absolutely love! I always lean towards an illuminating primer as opposed to a mattifying primer as I feel as though it suits my skin a lot more. I also then have my favourite foundations - MAC Studio Waterweight, Estee Lauder Double Wear, Vichy 3D Correction, MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof, and the small white tub is a sample of Clinique Anti Blemish foundation which I'm trialling at the moment and I absolutely love it.

In the large insert on the right of this is where I keep my concealers and setting powders. In here I have two miniature Benefit Boiing - in shade 1 and 2. I also have an Erase Paste and Fake Up (both also from Benefit). I then have a Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer, Rimmel Wake Me Up, Collection Lasting Perfection, MAC Pro Longwear, a Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat in the limited edition packaging and then another Touche Eclat style pen which is from Estee Lauder. The two powders I have in here are my MAC Prep and Prime Translucent Loose Powder and MAC Pro Longwear Pressed Powder.

Next to this insert is where I keep my blushes/bronzers. I won't lie I will more often than not use palettes of blushes that are kept in separate storage but in here are my most used. Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel is a staple and was my graduation present to myself, and I also keep my Hoola bronzer which is an an absolute must have of mine. I then have a minature of Benefit Benetint and then I have Dandelion Dew which is a liquid blusher from Benefit. Highlighter wise I have the Sleek Solstice Palette which I use almost every single day. The Balm's Mary Lou Manizer and then a miniature of High Beam by Benefit. In here I also keep my Urban Decay Primer Potion which I have in Original.

On the right hand side of this I have some medium sized inserts where I keep lip products, mascaras and then I also have inserts for lipliners and brow products. In the brow insert I'm not ashamed to say every single brow product in this is from Benefit Cosmetics. Working for Benefit I use their brow products every single day, but I think I can safely say that even if I didn't work for them, the brow products I use would probably still be Benefit as I love them that much. So in here I have Ka-Brow in shade 3, Gimme Brow in shade 3, Precisely My Brow in shade 3, 3D Browtones in shade 2, High Brow, High Brow Glow and Ready Set Brow.

Next to the brow insert are my lipliners which I don't own millions of but I still absolutely love lipliners. I have a couple from Urban Decay in Rush and Stark Naked, Pillow Talk by Charlotte Tilbury, Candy K from Kylie Cosmetics and then Subculture, Soar and Cherry by MAC. Here I also keep my pencil sharpener which is a dual one from Benefit.

In my lip insert I keep mainly lipsticks but also a gloss and a liquid lipstick - I have a Rouge Volupte Shine from YSL, two Benefit Double The Lip Lipsticks in Revved Up Red and Lusty Rose, Dynamic by Estee Lauder (if Kendall can pull it off, so can I), Whirl, Mehr, Ruby Woo and Velvet Teddy by MAC, Rush and Stark Naked by Urban Decay. I also have Candy K by Kylie Cosmetics, Posie Balm by Benefit and then a NYX Butter Gloss in Tiramisu. These are my staple colours and are mainly nudes or brown nudes - I do have a couple of reds in here but they are rarely worn.

I then have mascaras and eyeliners - my most used being Benefit's They're Real which I usually team with the They're Real Tinted Primer. I then have Benefit Roller Lash, Rimmel Volume Colourist, L'Oreal False Lash Sculpt, Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme and Too Faced Better Than Sex. I also have my Benefit They're Real Push Up Liner in Black and the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk. I also keep my Beauty Blender in here and a Benefit Single Eyeshadow in Nude Swings which is a gorgeous champagne shimmer colour.

I keep my Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation, B6 Prep Spray, All Nighter Setting Spray and EOS Lip Balm in the gap underneath, and in the gap to the right I keep my Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Powder in Luminous, alongside my Estee Lauder Revitalising Supreme Moisturiser, Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm, Vichy Normaderm BB Cream, Benefit Big Easy and Urban Decay One and Done. Also, hiding somewhere in there is my Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes Palette which is my every day staple really - I love the colours.

Lots of products in a small tidy space. It means I know where everything's kept and if anyone else was to look in there they'd probably find what they need too. I often have a little shuffle around but everything stays in the same insert, just a different order!


Wednesday, 14 December 2016

MY FAVE FIVE: NUDE LIPSTICKS.


Lipsticks are huge business - just think of Urban Decay who released 100 shades of lipstick in their Vice Collection, and Smashbox who topped that earlier this year! I love experimenting with different colours, I love dark reds and purples as well as nudes but when it comes to wearing lipstick in public it's either a very sheer wash of colour or a nude. I'd love to be braver in terms of colour!

MAC Mehr is one of my go to colours - a pink tone, very similar to MAC Soar lip liner (to be quite honest, they're usually applied together) - I love the MAC Lipsticks though, and that's obvious even down to the fact that there are two MAC Lipsticks in my top five. I love the creamy consistency and the longevity, not to mention the sleek packaging of them . MAC Velvet Teddy is the second nude I was going to mention which is a light brown tone, I pretty much always pair this with Subculture lip liner.

Urban Decays range of lipsticks is crazy, 100 colours and a variety of finishes - I have two, and Stark Naked is a gorgeous nude shade. Stark Naked is a comfort matte, a brown toned nude that I feel would match everything and anything. I really like the consistency of the lipsticks, not too hard that you have to put a lot of pressure on to apply (yes I have come across lipsticks like that). I have the matching lip liner and they create the perfect lip combo.

Estee Lauder's Dynamic is a gorgeous pink toned lipstick, not as matte as the MAC lipsticks, yet not a satin finish either. It's a beautiful colour, and these kinds of darker, nude pink shades are my favourite to wear. Again, just like the others, it applies so easily to the lip and it's comfortable too.

Benefit Cosmetics are releasing some new lipsticks next year (keep your eyes peeled), and one of my favourites is Lusty Rose, released as part of the They're Real Big Sexy Lip Kit. These are a combined lipstick and lip liner and you can read more about them here. The minute I saw Lusty Rose I knew it would become a staple colour for me as it's so similar to the colours I already lean towards.


Saturday, 10 December 2016

MORNING SKINCARE: STRIPPED BACK

Due to my use of Acnecide Benzoyl Peroxide Cream (read about that here) my morning skincare is pretty short and sweet and mainly consists of cleansing any dirt out of my skin from the night before. I'm pretty groggy in the mornings, so cleansing my face first thing really helps to wake me up. I tend to let the hot tap run for a while to warm up the water. After a night time application of Acnecide you never know what kind of mess will pop up on my face overnights so a hot flannel has become my new best friend. I lay the flannel on my skin for a while, but also use it to clean away any excess dirt from around my eyes ready to put my contact lenses in.

After laying a hot flannel on my face for a while, and gently rubbing around my eyes, I used the Decleor Aroma Cleanse which is a 3 in 1 cleansing and smoothing mousse to cleanse my entire face. This cleanser is gentle, which is usually what I need in the morning. I rinse the cleanser off, pat my face dry and then apply a light coat of Acnecide. I'm aware that a product such as this can pull any dirt and imperfection to the surface of the skin and that's not something I want to appear on my face throughout the day, so I always apply a lighter amount in the morning. Once the Acnecide Gel has dried, I apply a moisturiser - at the moment it's Benefit's Total Moisture which has Mango butter in which is great for my dry skin happening as a side effect of the medicated cream. 

That's my skin all ready and prepped for make up - or lack of if it's a day off of mine. At first applying the gel every morning and night was a bit of a chore but it's allowed me to get a real cleansing routine. 





Thursday, 8 December 2016

MY FAVE FIVE: CONCEALERS.



Concealers are an absolute must have in my life right now - mainly for blemishes but also for the dark circles that come alongside this rotten cold I have at the moment. Just like my foundations, I have a few favourites and they all really do different things but I love each of them just as much and I'm not entirely sure I could choose between them.

One of my all time favourite concealers is the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer which retails at about £4.19 - one of the many reasons I love it is probably the price - a cheap concealer that actually works is always a good thing in my eyes, but also because of the versatility of the product. It's amazing both under the eye and on any blemishes. The doe foot applicator is small enough to fit right into the inside corner of the eye and brighten the entire area. Collection - well done!

Fake Up by Benefit was the first Premium concealer I ever purchased, not to mention the first Benefit product I ever purchased (look where that got me!) I love the fact that it's so hydrating - so great under the eye as the eye area is so delicate. It's great on blemishes too as it doesn't dry them out! I use the lightest shade in a 'magic v' under the eye and blend out with a brush (or my finger if I'm being quick).

MAC Pro Longwear is popular, a full coverage concealer that's great on blemishes and has amazing staying power. I used to use this when I needed a full coverage stay all day concealer when I was doing long, or double shifts. The frustrating thing with this concealer is that it's a pump as opposed to a doe foot or stick applicator - this means that sometimes it gives off too much product and once it's out it can't be put back! I've learnt that half a pump is the right amount for under my eyes and any more if I have any blemishes that I need covering.

Bourjois Radiance Reveal concealer is another high street concealer that I adore - it's a new find but it's incredible and compact so you can throw it in your bag and go! It's gorgeous and easy to blend. I love this under the eye as the shade I chose is a little light so it gives this amazing, radiant, bright under eye.

My final concealer is Benefit's Erase Paste - only a recent discovery from my work allocation, Erase Paste is a pink colour corrector that brightens and counteracts any blue or purple discolouration around the eye - that means those pesky dark circles. It's quite a thick consistency at first but after some blending it's amazing - hands down my favourite concealer for under the eye.

I love concealers! Have any of you got any favourites?


Wednesday, 30 November 2016

FIRST IMPRESSION: YOUNIQUE.



Whenever a new make up brand pops up, we're always pretty eager to try (at least I am) so after winning a competition through my local Younique Representative on Facebook I thought I'd write a post on my first impressions on the brand.

Admittedly, I'm not too keen on the constant social media posting, but I really liked these three shades of lipstick, Stinkin' Rich, Loaded and Upper Class - one red, one darker brown tone and a pink tone nude (my favourite). The lipsticks are amazing! Really moisturising and long lasting. The packaging is lovely and sleek too - overall I'm pretty impressed. I look forward to trying some more Younique products!


Tuesday, 29 November 2016

ACNECIDE: MY EXPERIENCE.



A while ago, I had a huge breakout - I'm pretty sure it was a reaction to a primer that I tried as my skin started to appear bumpy and textured after using that, however I was impatient and tried to get rid of any blemishes by over-exfoliating - twice a day to be precise. Although the exfoliator was gentle, it was far too much, especially considering you should exfoliate twice a week. I was desperate to get rid of the breakout, but it made it worse.

It got to the point where I was embarrassed of my skin - I've never been one to rely on make up. I never really like to wear masses, and I felt like I had to in order to cover everything up. My Mum dragged me to our local pharmacist and asked them to give me something for my skin - after a short examination of my face, they gave me a 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel called Acnecide.. to be quite honest I felt like I had acne.. the spots were large, red and painful and I wanted rid. I started with the gel but was advised that there is a face wash you can use alongside the cream if I didn't feel like it was working. I was also advised to strip back my skincare routine for a while - all my favourite toners and serums had to be put away for a while, and I was to use a mild cleanser twice a day. 

I found the most natural cleanser I owned - a Decleor Aroma Cleanse in the morning, and a Decleor Micellar Oil to remove make up and cleanse at night time. After cleansing both morning and night I applied a generous coat of Acnecide to the affected areas. At first it made my skin itch and feel tight, I remember one day I put it on and my entire face hurt. After a while the pain went away and my skin began to clear, almost every single day I would wake up with more spots, but they would clear up and after time became less frequent. 

I wasn't applying any form of moisturiser out of fear that it would aggravate my skin, however the Acnecide Gel started to dry my skin hugely - I've never had dry skin so I panicked and started mass applying moisturiser, morning, night and before any make up application. I use Benefit's Total Moisture as it's my favourite moisturiser and its the thickest I own. 

I'm now on my second tube of Acnecide, my skin has cleared up dramatically, but it still has a long way to go. I'm starting to slowly introduce some other skincare into my routine, one product at a time. Acnecide however, has become part of my skincare routine and probably will be for quite a while - but that's fine because I can see how much of a difference it is making.  





Monday, 28 November 2016

MY FAVE FIVE: FOUNDATIONS.


Foundation is a huge staple in someones make up bag - it can completely change the way someone looks through creating a flawless base for the beginning of your makeup. I have quite a few favourites, and they are all completely different - from dewy and brightening, to matte and full coverage. At the moment, a foundation is probably my favourite part of my make up routine, it makes me feel much more confident in covering all flaws and redness. I have many favourites but I managed to narrow it down to my five favourites.

My go to staple foundation is Estee Lauder's Double Wear. It's full coverage, and wears for hours which is exactly what I need for long days. It doesn't necessarily have a dewy finish (which is my preference over matte) however I choose to use an illuminating primer in order to create that finish. I apply this with a flat concealer brush and then blend with a beauty blender due to the fact that the bottle doesn't have a pump. A little goes a long long way with this foundation and the bottle has lasted me ages.

Another one of my favourites is Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow by Benefit Cosmetics. Hello Flawless is lightweight and hydrating. It's a buildable, breathable foundation which is one of the many things I like about it - and besides that, gives a dewy finish! Despite the finish, I'll still use a brightening primer (specifically Benefit's That Gal) to give the perfect base to start on. I like to apply this, like all foundations, with a beauty blender however it applies beautifully with a flat foundation brush or buffing brush.

Vichy Dermablend 3D Correction has made an appearance on my blog before (here) but it's great for acne/blemish prone skin. It's a full coverage foundation but definitely doesn't feel that way; it covers, smooths and improves skins texture in one application. The ingredients in this foundation unfold like a second skin, blurring imperfections and create a much more even skin tone and texture.

My last two favourites are from MAC. The first MAC foundation that I tried was the Studio Fix Fluid which I really liked, but once I branched out I found two that I absolutely love! The Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof is exactly that - longwearing and waterproof. I've seen that this has been used by Olympic swimmers, further confirming the fact that the foundation is highly waterproof. I like that it's in a tube that you can squeeze out and due to the full coverage of this foundation (can we tell I like my full coverage?) a little bit goes a really really long way. My second foundation from MAC is the Studio Waterweight which is water based and feels amazing on the skin. It has a dropper in the bottle which you apply directly to the face and blend. The Studio Waterweight is lightweight and buildable - reminding me ever so slightly of a fuller coverage Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow.


There are so many foundations that I love, including more from Illamasqua, Urban Decay and even high street brands such as Rimmel and Revlon, and so many more that I'd love to try! What are your favourites?



Sunday, 27 November 2016

STILA ONE STEP CORRECT


Stila's One Step Correct is possibly my all time favourite primer - I rarely use an entire bottle and get a second but this one, I have! It's a tone correcting and brightening serum that instantly colour corrects, brightens and helps improve skin imperfections.

This product is a huge must in my make up bag and it's appearance always gets my friends asking what it is - it's a triple helix design including green, lavender and peach tones to colour correct the face.

  • Green tones instantly neutralises redness and conceals blemishes.
  • Lavender tone counteracs sallow undertones and creates a vibrant, energised look.
  • Peach tone brightens, illuminates and helps diminish the appearance of sun spots and darkness.
One Step Correct also contains Stila's Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex which helps with brightening and anti-aging. The creamy formula blends perfectly into the skin, doesn't settle into pores or fine lines, making your skin look amazing, radiant and flawless!



Saturday, 26 November 2016

VICHY DERMABLEND 3D CORRECTION.



I was kindly gifted some products by Vichy, one of which was their 3D Correction Foundation from the Dermablend range.  I'm a huge lover of a full coverage foundation to hide any imperfections and my lovely red rosy cheeks - I've tried a few, and I'd always wanted to try ones from Vichy as I'd heard that they were great for full coverage, and amazing on blemished skin.

3D Correction gives a flawless matte finish, and you only need the tiniest amount! The consistency is thick, but doesn't feel or look heavy on the skin which is incredible as quite often than not if a foundation has a thick consistency it appears thick on the skin. Vichy claim that the 3D Correction corrects colour and levels skin texture - they also claim that it visibly reduces the appearance of imperfections and I can safely say, after suffering from a vicious breakout, that it definitely has done so! My breakout has gone down dramatically after a few uses of 3D Correction.

I'm obsessed with this foundation - it's oil free, SPF 25, hypoallergenic and even paraben free. Lots of things that I look for in a foundation. I would 10000% recommend this to everyone, whether you have imperfections that you need to conceal or not. Full coverage and fantastic!


Friday, 25 November 2016

KYLIE JENNER LIP KIT.



The Kylie Jenner Lip Kits are growing ever popular, especially at first when there was next to no stock available. The Lip Kit consists of a liquid lipstick and a matching liner, and I love a good lip liner so this was an important part of the kit for me.

I managed to get my hands on Candy K which is a gorgeous nude colour - I was expecting a more pink nude, however it dries as a more brown toned nude which isn't a problem as I still like those kinds of colours.

Like any lip product I wear, I always use a lip balm before applying - liquid lipsticks are notoriously drying so keeping my lips hydrated is key. I also top up with a lip balm throughout the day if I feel as though my lips are drying out.

I absolutely love the formula of Candy K, although slightly drying (as with any liquid lipstick), it's long lasting and really pigmented. I also love the lip liner and frequently wear it alone! Well worth the money, although the customs charges were disappointing! I look forward to trying some more colours, hopefully a pink and a red next time!


Thursday, 24 November 2016

BENEFIT CHEEKATHON PALETTE.


Benefit's Box'O Powders are infamous - long lasting, pigmented blushes in a range of colours - pinks, corals, plums, there's something to suit everyone.  Earlier this year Benefit created the Cheekathon palette, extremely similar to the palettes usually released around Christmas; Real Cheeky Party, and this years Blushin' Babe, except in this one, every single blusher is full size!

The palette consists of Coralista, Dandelion, Rockateur, Dallas and the ever popular, Hoola bronzer. I like to use Hoola to bronze up the face and any of the other colours to add a pop of colour to the cheeks - sometimes it's Rockateur, sometimes it's Coralista, and coming more into the Winter months it can be Dallas - I tend to change it up a lot.

The palette itself is worth £117 but it's sold for £44.50 - thats £8.90 a blusher.. insane value for money really. Benefit's Cheekathon palette is exclusive to House of Fraser and you can purchase it here.


Wednesday, 23 November 2016

VICHY DERMABLEND CORRECTIVE STICK.



I was super excited to receive the Vichy Dermablend Corrective Stick in the post as it's something I've wanted to try for a long time now. At first I was unsure whether it was a concealer or foundation - and although listed as a concealer, I'm sure it could be something you could use as both.

I like to apply mine directly to the skin around any blemishes and blend in. The formula is smooth, oil free and easy to work with. It also has an SPF 30 and claims to be waterproof, although I haven't personally tested that myself.

I am obsessed with this concealer and I've used it every day since I received it - I like a full coverage concealer and am used to the likes of Benefit Boiing, or MAC Pro Longwear concealers and I can safely say that this has been replacing those for a while. This is one of Vichy's bestsellers and I can certainly see why.


Tuesday, 22 November 2016

ESTEE LAUDER ADVANCED NIGHT REPAIR.



So many women swear by Advanced Night Repair. The ladies from the Estee Lauder counter at work swear by Advanced Night Repair and I can certainly see why! 
At the moment, I won't lie, my skin is absolutely atrocious. Something unknown has caused my skin to break out horrifically and I'm absolutely heartbroken as I was just building a brilliant friendship with my skin and now I feel like I've been betrayed. I'd used Advanced Night Repair before and loved it, however that was only a sample and that sample is long gone. I got myself another sample, just to make sure I love it as much as I did the first time, and I do. 

Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair is advertised as an anti-aging serum, it's also advertised as something that gives you more beautiful looking skin every day - and that's something that I need most at this moment in time. It basically maximises the power of your skin's natural nighttime renewal and has been tried, tested and proven on over 500 women - that's really something!

I've been using it for a while now, and I can already see a difference! My skin looks smoother, more hydrated, and stronger - I can tell that it's repairing itself from my monster breakout! It's also been making my skin appear a lot less dry which is amazing as that's never something I'd really struggled with until lately, and it's really helping with that which is great.

The regular size bottles have a dropper so that you can apply a few drops to your fingertips and then apply to the face, but the travel size ones have a normal bottle so I've been pouring a small amount into my hands and then applying straight to my face. I love it - it's oil free, and fragrance free and it's amazing!


Wednesday, 16 November 2016

URBAN DECAY PRIMER POTION.



I can get quite oily eyelids so an eyelid primer is an absolute must for me. I've tried loads including Avon, and Benefit (although I love Benefit's Air Patrol) but the Urban Decay Primer Potion is my favourite by far. It's quite a thick consistency and allows the eyeshadow to completely stick to my eyelid without budging all day. 

I chose mine in the shade Original which dries invisibly however they do have different shades including Minor Sin which is a champagne shimmer, Eden which is completely mattifying and one specifically for Anti Aging so again, just like their setting sprays there really is something for everyone. 

There's not a lot to say on this one, besides the fact that it's the best eyelid primer I've ever used. Keeps my eyeshadow on all day with minimal creasing - just what I like! 

What are your favourite eyelid primers?



Tuesday, 15 November 2016

URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHTER SETTING SPRAY



A setting spray is a staple in my every day make up - my skin tends to soak up my make up so I like to set it as much as I can without losing the effect of my makeup. Sometimes I find that using a powder to set (baking especially) can really make my skin look matte, and sometimes even dry, and that's not something I like as I usually go for a dewier, more natural finish.

The Urban Decay setting sprays are notoriously good, I've used others - from ELF, Avon and Freedom Cosmetics but none of them seem to do it as well as Urban Decay do! They have a few to choose from, including one for oilier skin so there really is something for everyone. I use the All Nighter Setting Spray which is suitable for all skin types and as at the moment mine is combination, it seems to be the best choice for me.

The All Nighter Setting Spray is a weightless mist that allows your makeup to look gorgeous for up to 16 hours! This is great way to stop the makeup melting, or settling into fine lines, and it definitely stops my face absorbing the makeup to the extent it usually does. Before application, just give the bottle a quick shake and then mist 2-4 times in a X and T formation.

I absolutely love this! It makes a huge difference to my makeup so I've started using it on an almost daily basis! Have you tried any setting sprays? Let me know what you thought!


Monday, 14 November 2016

URBAN DECAY BLACKMAIL LIPSTICK PALETTE.




The Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks have been hugely popular so I was eager to see which colours they would put in their limited edition Vice Palette. There are twelve shades to choose from and they are such a huge variety - I can imagine it was difficult to narrow it down from the 100 shades that Urban Decay released earlier this year.

The palette includes some dark colours, bold and bright colours and versatile neutrals (something I lean more towards). Something I really like about the palette is that not only have they given a variety of colours, they've also given a variety of finishes - including cream, matte, mega matte and shimmer. They've got dark shades like Blackmail and Firebird, bright shades such as EZ and 714, neutrals like Vanished, 1993 and Ex-Girlfriend and those to experiment with such as Big Bang and Conspiracy.. I'm eager to try them all! 

The palette also comes with a great retractable lip brush which I'm also really looking forward to trying as I love trying out new brushes - hopefully this is one that I'll love! I haven't even tried this palette although I have tried a couple of shades from the Vice Collection and those are great so I'm eager to try some new shades!

I'm super excited to use this palette - what are your favourite colours from the Urban Decay Vice Collection?


Monday, 17 October 2016

CLARINS FEED 10.



I've always been a very charitable person - always finding ways to raise money for charity or do generous things that can make a difference to someones life, even through simple acts of kindness. When I saw Clarins Feed 10 Gift with Purpose, there wasn't a doubt that crossed my mind that I had to have it. 

Clarins had collaborated with FEED Projects around the world to fight the worldwide childhood hunger epidemic - each set funding 10 school meals for children in poverty stricken countries throughout the UN Food Programme. 

The Gift with Purpose contains the Moisture Rich Body Lotion, Relax Bath & Shower Concentrate, Gentle Facial Exfoliator, Hydra Quench Cream Mask and Hand & Nail Treatment - I'm obsessed with a few of these which was another reason for me to get this, but more importantly for the children that it could help around the world.

The Gift with Purpose has ended now, but hopefully seeing this could inspire you to do something good for your community, or just for someone who needs it.



Sunday, 16 October 2016

URBAN DECAY B6 PREP SPRAY.



Earlier this year I fell in love with a priming water and at first I thought that the Urban Decay B6 Prep Spray was just like that.. how wrong I was. Think of the B6 as the last step of your skincare and the first step of your makeup. 

The B6 Prep Spray is infused with all the good vitamins that your skin needs, including Vitamin B6, as well as being formulated to absorb oil, minimise the appearance of pores, reduce redness and prep your face ready for make up. There's also a bit of Vitamin E which provides antioxidants, and willow bark which is rich in salicylic acid (amazing for blemishes) and aids cell turnover. I give the bottle a good shake and spray all over my face - exactly the same way you would use a priming water or setting spray - and then get on with the rest of my make up.

Urban Decay claim that their B6 Prep Spray reduces oil and surface shine, as well as creating more radiant skin with less blemishes and redness. Over 72% of users could see a difference in their skins overall appearance - they must be doing something right. 

I haven't been using the the B6 Prep Spray for long but I've already noticed differences in my blemishes and the longevity of my make up. A product that I would never have looked to use on my own but I'm glad I was pointed its way!





Thursday, 13 October 2016

URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHTER FOUNDATION.



Urban Decay are an amazing make up brand that I've been trying a lot of recently. Growing up, it was really the only premium make up name that I knew as my cousin was always using their products! Lately, their new All Nighter Foundation has become a staple in my make up bag. Usually, I was using Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation as it was high coverage and stayed all day - so I was eager to try the All Nighter when I heard that it was supposed to be a rival for the Double Wear.

The All Nighter is a water based, waterproof formula that provides a full coverage that lasts all day. When I first tried the foundation it was a tiny sample pot and I was not expecting the coverage it gave at first - I used a Real Techniques Buffing Brush, lightly flicked it into the pot and it covered my whole face! Blown away!

The All Nighter has an insane amount of pigment - it's not advertised as a buildable foundation because it's simply not! A little goes a long way and thats the way I like it! Be warned though, the foundation can run a little dark once dry so I would go for a shade lighter than you usually wear to be on the safe side.

I like to wear mine with a little concealer under the eye, some powder around the nose where I get the shiniest and a load of All Nighter Setting Spray to finish the look. I would 100% recommend this foundation to anyone (in fact I already have been).

Have you tried the All Nighter Foundation yet? What do you think?


Thursday, 29 September 2016

MY CURRENT EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE.



I'm a huge fan of changing up my skincare routine - probably a little bit too often but I think that there are so many amazing skincare products out there that I can never decide which ones to use! My skin is extremely fussy and at 23 years old I'm still trying to find the perfect skincare routine for me - I am really enjoying my current routine, although this weekend I used a product which has caused a huge breakout and change in my skins texture so at the moment I'm fighting to get it back to normal!

So the first thing I usually do is remove my eye make up - I do this separately because I wear quite stubborn mascara (and sometimes eyeliner) and I find it much more gentler on the eyes to use a seperate remover first - at the moment I'm using the Clarins Eye Make Up Remover which is a biphase cleanser (oil and water duo) which you have to shake to activate. These are my favourite kinds of eye make up remover as I feel the combination of oil and water help to remove the most stubborn of products. I apply this on a cotton pad and just work into the eyelashes gently to remove. I've also tried eye make up removers from The Body Shop, Vichy, La Roche Posay which I think are all great too!

My next step is my actual cleanser and at the moment (and for a couple of months) has been the Decleor Micellar Oil. Micellar products are a huge thing at the moment and I never really noticed a difference when I was using a micellar water however the minute I started using the Micellar Oil I noticed a dramatic difference in the texture of my skin and I absolutely loved it! I started with a sample size and made my way to the Decleor counter the second the sample ran out! I use a couple of pumps in the palm of my hand and work it into the skin - this acts as a make up remover and kick starts your circulation to boost the skins radiance - I then use some water to turn the oil into a cleansing milk and further cleanse deep into my skin.

I then follow with the Benefit Refined Finish Facial Polish which is a facial exfoliant - I use this a couple of times a week just to get rid of any dead skin cells. The Refined Finish contains natural clay and seaweed extract which really helps to purify the skin.A great thing about this product is that you can lather up and leave it on as a mask - a real two in one! Once I've used this, I use the Decleor Micellar Oil again just to clear my skin of any excess microbeads that are left on the surface of the skin.

Once I've done a second cleanse - I pat my face dry and use the La Roche Posay Serozinc which is a spray on zinc sulphate toner. This is designed for oily, blemish prone skin and the way I like to apply is just to spray my entire face and leave to sink into the skin. If I get spray happy, I'll pat away any excess with a dry towel. When used religiously, I really see results from this - I'm not particularly oily but I am extremely blemish prone and that's the side to my skin that I absolutely hate so I love finding products that are aimed at blemish prone skin that actually work!

After toner, I use a serum. I find serum such a luxurious product to use and to be completely honest I didn't need to test many before I found one that I loved - I've tried serums from Decleor, Bare Minerals, Benefit and the Nip + Fab Dragons Blood Fix is by far my favourite. I've been using this for months and I'm on my second bottle now! I just apply two pumps to my fingertips and rub into the skin, leaving to sink in. This contains hyaluronic acid which leaves the skin hydrated and plump, velvet flower which enhances moisture and dragons blood which comforts and restores through hydration. A serum allows any moisturiser to penetrate deeper into the skin and really supercharges your skincare and I really feel the effects of this one!

A night cream I've absolutely fallen head over heels in love with is the Decleor Aromessence Neroli Hydrating Night Balm. This balm works at night to maintain the balance and radiance of tired looking skin. I apply the tiniest amount as I find the scent can be particularly potent at first (I'm not used to all of these natural products and a lot that I have tried have been heavily fragranced) although I have found that the scent does have an impact on my sleep. It contains essential oils of Basil to purify and heal the skin, Neroli to soften and Camomile to prevent the appearance of dark spots and to calm the skin. It also contains Tonka Bean to boost micro-circulation, and a combination of plant oils including avocado, hazelnut and beeswax which helps hydrate and repair the skin. The Night Balm is 100% natural - the product itself is quite a thick consistency, and you do have to wash off in the morning however it leaves you with the most amazing radiant complexion in the morning!

I follow up with my current eye cream which is the Nip + Fab Viper Venom Eye Fix which you can read about here - I also use a little bit of the Witch Blemish Stick on my blemishes (yes, Witch Hazel is an astringent so it is drying on the skin but it works for me and has worked for me for years and years) to really help calm redness or dry them out ready to disappear for the next morning.

Skincare is hugely important for me and I'm still fighting to find my perfect routine which leaves me with perfect, glowing, hydrated, clear skin - so far natural skincare is a winner for me! It's a long long battle - not only do you need good skincare but a pretty good diet and lots of water!