Summer Makeup Bag

Every season I like to put a post together featuring all the makeup products I've been getting the most use out of. Here's what has been in my makeup bag as of late.

MUA Undressed Palette

I won't go into too much detail on this one as I just did a full review on it, you can see that here. It's a great, versatile palette that can be used to create lots of different looks. I've been using shade 6 (top row, right) and 7 (bottom row, left) the most.

Avon Ideal Flawless CC Cream - Nutmeg

This has been my everyday base for the last couple of months, I don't really need a full on foundation everyday and this feels so much more comfortable on the skin. It's really lightweight and contains SPF 50!

Bobbi Brown Corrector - Dark Peach

I tap this onto my dark circles with my finger as it covers them without feeling too heavy, it also really brightens up my face and makes me look more awake. 

Kiko Glow Touch Lip & Cheeks - 102 Wave Hibiscus

This one is quite a recent purchase but I've not stopped using it since I got it, it's a very flattering peachy pink shade in a cream formula that works well on both lips and cheeks. I do love a good multitasker!

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti

I've been mentioning this lipbalm/lipstick hybrid a lot recently, you can see what it looks like on here. It's been living in my handbag for when I need to add a bit of colour to my look. 

The Body Shop Mango Lip Butter

I love the taste/smell of mangoes so this lip balm was bound to go down well with me. The formula is super moisturising and it doesn't leave a pale cast on the lips.

Benefit Sun Beam

I do love a good highlighter and lately I've been going for liquid formulas over powder. This one sits somewhere in between champagne and gold and manages to bring a bit of life back into the face while still looking subtle. 

What's been in you makeup bag lately?

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Spring Makeup Bag

When it comes to makeup, spring is definitely one of my favourite seasons, although I do feel a bit like I say that every season. The fresh dewy skin, which in my case is usually achieved with a combination of foundation, concealer and highlighter, the sheer washes of juicy colour on the lips and cheeks and barely there eyes seem to get me all excited, is it just me?

For the aforementioned barely there eyes I'll be reaching for Natural Collection Solo Eyeshadow in Barley and Nars Single eyeshadow in Night Star. The Natural Collection one is super pigmented and leaves a glistening champagne sheen on the lids, the Nars is a sheerer formula that contains specks of golden champagne glitter. They're both beautiful individually but layered together they are even more stunning!

For cheeks I be reaching for either Benefit Cha Cha Tint or Nars Multiple in Orgasm, depending on what I'm wearing on my lips. The iconic Nars wear with everything shade is a perfect peachy pink with a hint of gold shimmer that just seems to work on every skin tone. The Benefit on the other hand I reserve for when I'm wearing orange or a slick of clear balm on the lips. Don't let the orange shade scare you, it applies really sheer and blends into the skin amazingly well. 

For lips I have 3 options, all of which can pretty much be slicked on mirror free. The first is Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Peach on the Beach, it sits it just the right spot between orange and pink and does something amazing for the complexion. The second is Dior Addict Lip Glow, a product I will buy again and again. It's a super moisturising lip balm that adapts to your lip most natural and flattering shade of pink, no makeup makeup at it's best. Lastly, for when I'm feeling a tad braver, it will be Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti, and orangey red shade that can applied sheer in one coat or built up to a full on statement lip.

What makeup products will you be reaching for this spring?

Empties #6

It's empties time again, where I talk about what products I've used up lately and whether or not I'd repurchase them. I can't believe I'm on to the 6th one already! 

First up is the Avon Room & Linen Spray in Lavender and Chamomile, I've been using this stuff for ages and absolutely love it! I keep it on my bedside table and spritz a bit into the air before going to sleep, the scent is just so relaxing. Repurchase? Definitely

Lee Stafford Dry Shampoo Original is great to get a day or 2 more out of your blow-dry. It doesn't leave as much of a white cast or feel as powdery in the hair as some others can. Repurchase? Possibly at some point but there are a few others I want to try out first.

I did a full review of the Nivea Raspberry Rose Lip Butter a while ago (see here), it smells delicious, softens lips really well but leaves a very unflattering pale cast on the lips, such a shame! Repurchase? No

As you can see, I haven't completely finished the Avon Gel Strength Base Coat, but what's left in the bottle (about 1/5) has gone so thick and gloopy that it can't be used. That said, most of the ones I've tried seem to do that and this one did a pretty good job before it got gloopy. Repurchase? Yes

The Body Shop Absinthe Hand Cream was kept in the car and used constantly, it has a really moisturising formula that manages to feel really fresh on the skin and sink in quickly. Repurchase? Yes

The Avon Anew Lip Plumping Conditioner was unfortunately, a huge disappointment. The packaging is gorgeous but the product just didn't deliver. Moisture wise, it was ok, but it left a really thick, unflattering pale cast on the lips that for me makes it a big no-no. Repurchase? No

Benefit Hello Oxygen Flawless Wow Brightening Makeup is the only foundation I've been using for the past couple of months, full review here. It has medium coverage that is really buildable, plus the added SPF 25 is a bonus that makes it great for everyday. Repurchase? I already have another one on the go!

I tried out the Klorane Shampoo with Mango Butter a while ago (full review here) and thought it was really impressive for a budget shampoo. It leaves hair feeling clean but not stripped of all moisture. Since running out I've been using a Charles Worthington Shampoo which I think I prefer. Repurchase? Maybe

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes was another disappointing product, this stuff smudged like crazy. Even if you smudged it on purpose, after a few hours it would have travelled even further. Repurchase? No 

I like to get mini products for when I go away and Lee Stafford are great for that. I got the Hold Tight hairspray a while ago and it's lasted me a good few holidays. It did the job but didn't particularly blow me away. Repurchase? Maybe 

New In - Highend/Luxury

Nars Narsissist Blush Palette

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush

Smashbox Full Exposer Palette

Benefit Lollitint

Clarins Multi Blush

By Terry Blush Glace

Tom Ford Lip Colour Sheer 

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

Yesterday I mentioned a few high street/drugstore new makeup launches so today I thought I'd talk about a few luxury ones that have caught my attention. I feel like the market is being flooded with nude eyeshadow palettes at the moment, there are just so many! They all look so lovely it's getting very difficult to choose! Have you tried any of them?

REVIEW: Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup

When I think of Benefit, their boxed blushers and quirky packaging come to mind. I've never really paid much attention to their base products. A while ago, I spent a long time at a counter, chatting away with a lovely sales assistant and walked away with a few purchases, a couple of which are are some of my absolute favourites. Seeing as I was buying so much, she very kindly gave me a few samples of the Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup to try!

I first used this in the summer when I took it away with me on holiday. I used it a couple of times but didn't really get on with it very well, I found it looked a bit too dewy on me, almost sweaty! It was then stashed away and forgotten about until recently. 

My skin is completely different in the winter so I thought I'd give it another go, and I'm so glad I did! I now find I need the extra moisture and this foundation sits really well on my skin. It has a medium build able coverage that never cakes up or looks overdone. It's the only foundation I've been using for the last couple of months and I've only got through one little 5ml sample, so it lasts ages. Once I've used up the second one I'll definitely consider buying the full size as a 'winter foundation'. It even has an SPF of 25 which is an added bonus!

Have you tried this foundation?

Jen's Sleepover Makeup

There's nothing more fun on a girly sleepover than having a nose through your friend's makeup bag and giving makeovers, apart from  eating an extensive amount of chocolate and watching terrible movies of course!

To start with I smoothed Benefit Porefessional Primer all over Jen's skin with my fingers to create an even base and make the makeup last well (even though we weren't going anywhere) I then worked in MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NC15 with my trusty Real Techniques Buffing Brush, which left her skin looking absolutely flawless! We skipped concealer and went straight onto the fun bits, colour!

Using a Real Techniques Contour Brush I used the contour shade from the Sleek Contour Kit in Light to lightly accentuate Jen's cheekbones. This is such a great palette, we both own and love it, amazing really as we have such different skintones! Of course I had to be much more handed with it on Jen than myself. I then used a Real Techniques Stippling Brush to apply Revlon Photoready Cream Blusher in Flushed to the apples of cheeks and Benefit Highbeam to the tops of cheekbones, down the centre of the nose and above the cupid's bow. The light pink, pearlescent tones in this highlighter complemented Jen's skin perfectly! 


The main focus of the look was the eyes, we went for a soft neutral smoky look. I started by filling in Jen's brows with the Benefit Brows a go go kit and then adding the lightest shade (top left hand corner) from the MUA Undressed Palette under the brow bones and in the inner corners of the eyes. I then added the colour next to it all over the lid and blended out the edges with a Sephora Pro Blending Brush 27, next I used the bronze shade (bottom left) and worked that into the crease using the same brush, continuing to blend to make sure there were no harsh lines. I then added a really thin line of Clinique Quickliner for eyes in Black and smudged it across the top and bottom lash line for a softer look. Lashes were then curled and a generous amount of YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara was layered on, leaving Jen's already amazingly long and curly lashes look seriously stunning. This mascara is amazing, It's now been firmly placed onto my wish list!


To finish off the look we went for Clinique Almost Lipstick in Luscious Honey, it complemented the eyes perfectly while still being really subtle. Perfect! 

Objects of Desire - Benefit Countdown to Love Advent Calendar

Benefit Countdown to Love Advent Calendar

What's in my Makeup Bag?

I've recently changed up what's in my everyday makeup bag so I thought I'd share what I've been using. Base starts with L'Oreal Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer and MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NC45, both of which I mentioned in my Project Use Up post. The foundation is a bit on the matte and heavy side for my liking at the moment so I've been mixing it with a bit of my daily moisturiser. 

To bring a bit of warmth to the skin I dust on Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder, and pat in a bit of Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in Flushed. I've also been reaching for Benefit Sun Beam, my favourite highlighter at the moment which gives skin a soft glow. 

For eyes I've mostly been keeping things pretty simple, a swipe of Avon SuperShock Eyeliner in Black, which is completely foolproof, and a quick curl and swipe of mascara on the lashes. For days when I want to put in a bit more effort, I've been using my Avon 8 in 1 eye palette in In The Nudes, which has some lovely neutral shades that I've been experimenting with. 

For lips I've been using Clinique Almost Lipstick in Luscious Honey, which is a tinted balm that leaves lips with a subtle stain or Avon Ultra Colour Rich Mega Impact Lipstick in Divine Wine (see it in action here) for when I want full on colour!

Also in my makeup bag I have Avon Glimmersticks Brow Definer in Soft Black, Sephora Eyelash Curlers and Avon SuperExtend Extreme Mascara. 

What's in your Makeup Bag?

FOTD #1

I've always loved reading Face of the Day posts but never felt quite brave enough to do one. Today I felt a bit brave so I said, why not? bit the bullet, and went for it! I thought for my first one I'd keep it simple and show you a look I've been wearing a lot lately. It's my version of an autumnal look with berry lips and cheeks.  

So here's what I used! I started with L'Oreal's Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer which I spoke a bit about in my Project Use Up post. It takes a bit of working in with fingers but smoothes out the skin and makes makeup last all day. 

I then worked The Body Shop's Extra Virgin Minerals Cream Compact Foundation in 408 Rose Caramel into my skin using a Real Techniques Buffing Brush, this foundation is quite thick so I always remove any excess from the brush first. It gives a good finish and moisturises dry skin.

Next I hid dark under eye circles using the tiniest bit of MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC45, a little goes a long way with this concealer so use it sparingly under the eyes, too much and it will just crease. I apply it with the Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush, which is perfect because you can really get into the corner under the eye where most of the darkness is. 

I then dusted on some of Benefit's Dallas Blusher onto cheeks and into the cheekbone hollows, it's a dusky plum colour so it really brightens up the face as well as bringing out cheekbones. I then added a bit of Sephora Highlighting Compact Powder in Golden onto the tops of cheekbones and along the centre on the nose, all using the Eco Tools Blusher Brush and that's face done!

I kept eyes simple by filling in any sparse areas of my brows in with Avon Glimmerstick Brow Definer in Soft Black. I then added a touch of the highlighter to my brow bone using the Sephora 27 Pro Blending Brush, put on a quick swipe of Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense in 01 Intense Black and lashings of Avon Superextend Extreme Mascara. 

To complete the look I applied Avon Ultra Colour Rich Mega Impact Lipstick in Divine Wine. I'm really loving this colour at the moment, I've been wearing it constantly as the formula is really comfortable to wear and it has good lasting power! 

What do you think of this look?