Current Beauty Favourites

I didn't post my favourites for last month because I was very busy and didn't have the time so today I thought I’d share with you my current ‘summer’ favourites instead. I've enjoyed using a few different products over the summer and I've re discovered some products which I had nearly forgotten about but am so glad to be using them again.

 

 I’ll start by telling you about all the makeup I have enjoyed using recently which firstly includes the Rimmel Wake me up foundation. I find this is the perfect foundation for summer as it gives me a great glow; I also like it because it works well with my dry skin and blends in effortlessly. I’d say the coverage is light to medium but can be buildable to suit your preferences. I have two different shades of this foundation as I've found I am a mixture between the two colours 100 Ivory and 2013 True Ivory, so I simply mix them together to give me the perfect colour match.

Next is this eyebrow kit from Collection, I only use the lightest shade which may sound a waste however I would definitely buy this pallet again just for this colour (especially considering is was under £5!) This colour reminds me of Omega from MAC however it’s obviously a lot cheaper. I've found it great when applied to the brows with a small angled brush to give a naturally defined shape. The kit also came with a handy little clear brow setting gel which is a great thing to have.

The full size Benefit They’re Real mascara has very mixed reviews, some people say that the mini tester one is much better and gives a better result. I was a little apprehensive when I first tried the full size one as it seemed very wet and didn't give me amazing results however after owning it for a few months, I am now very impressed. The formula seems to work best once it’s dried out slightly so I’d say be patient and wait a few weeks before you judge it fully. Overall I really love this mascara and I find it gives me the most amazing and impressive lashes, it stays on all day without flaking off and I do think that it’s worth the money.

The Rimmel London Colour Moose’s are no longer available to buy so I’ll only mention this one quickly as I don’t think you can get them anywhere in the UK however I have really enjoyed using this one in the colour Chill Out. It gives a beautiful light shimmer on the eyelid which I have been using on its own to give a nice, subtle shine.

I mentioned this Chanel blush in a previous post and I have been obsessed with it ever since. I've never been confident when using blushes however this one has completely converted me; it gives a beautiful subtle flush to the cheeks. I've been using the Real Techniques blush brush with this blush and I have found they are the perfect combination to achieve a natural finish. This blush is from the Jersey collection and is in the shade Jersey Pêche.

Ever since I heard Sammi from Beauty Crush mention this cream colour base in the colour Pearl from MAC in one of her Youtube videos, I have been very eager to try it out. It’s a highlighter in the formula of a cream blush and it’s great for adding a glow to certain areas of the face. I really love it and find it has the perfect formula and is super easy and quick to apply. I like to pat some product with my fingers onto the tops of my cheekbones, down my nose and above my lips to give a natural glow to my face. 

I've owned this ‘gloss stick’ from Soap and Glory for a while now but I haven’t ever been very impressed however when I heard that Gabby from Velvet Ghost loved it I was interested to try it out again. It’s called Sexy Mother Pucker gloss stick in the colour Nudist and I think that it’s a great glossy nude; I'm not usually a fan of glossy lip products however I have really enjoyed wearing this one. It feels very hydrating on the lips and I love the colour as it’s not too bold so you can wear it day-to day.

Lip balms never usually stand out to me but I think that this one from Nuxe is the best one I've ever come across! It’s very hydrating however it doesn't dry sticky, the smell is subtle and it keeps your lips hydrated for a long time. I got this lip balm from France so unfortunately I don’t think I can buy it in England although I will definitely re purchase it if I have the chance in the future.

Elizabeth Arden 8-hour cream is an amazing multi-purpose product which I'm sure everybody could find a use. I have found it to be the perfect eyebrow setting gel, you only need a tiny amount and it works wonders at keeping your brows in place all day long. I've also found it great to calm down irritated or chapped skin- what do you use your 8-hour cream for?

I am so happy to have found a fantastic moisturiser that is extremely affordable, I'm talking about this Derma Care daily moisturising cream that I picked up from Boots for just under £5 (for a big bottle may I add!) It’s designed for the management of dry to very dry skin so I wouldn't recommend it if you have oily skin however don’t be put off it you have normal to dry skin as I don’t find it oily at all as you may expect. This cream is very hydrating however it sinks into the skin very well and very quickly so your skin doesn't feel greasy but it will feel hydrated. I've found it great used under makeup or just as a regular moisturiser.

The Body Shop camomile silky cleansing oil is my new favourite makeup remover/ cleanser. I like this as it removes makeup quickly and makes my skin feel soft and clean. I simply pump some product onto my hand and rub over my face (including eyes- it won’t irritate them) then rinse with water. It removes all makeup including water proof makeup (yes- really!) so all around it’s a wonder product which I would highly recommend. 

I purchased this purifying all bright face scrub from Botanics (available in Boots) because I had a voucher and I wasn't expecting much although I am very impressed with it. I use this scrub every few days and I find it does a great job at doing a deep clean and I've also seen that it does make my face look brighter and clearer.

I have two hair favourites to talk about; the first one is this texturizing salt spray from Schwarzkopf Got2be. I already have naturally wavy, beachy hair although I've found this salt spray does a great job at enhancing my natural waves.

I spray it onto my hair after washing, scrunch it then let it dry to naturally.

Finally I wanted to mention these big clips that I always carry around with me in my bag, as I've mentioned above- my hair can be quite wild so I like to be able to tame it and these clips are perfect. I tend to clip parts back to make my hair more manageable and I've found that I can’t live without these so of course they had to go into a favourites post, right? They also make it easier for me to go without using heat on my hair, before I always had to straighten parts of my hair to tame it although now I just use these clips which saves me a lot of time and damage away from my hair.

If you've got this far, well done! I have done a lot of rambling although I hope you have enjoyed finding out which products I have been enjoying recently and hopefully I have tempted you to try out something new.

Makeup Brushes On A Budget- My Collection

Make up brushes are an essential part of achieving a great face of makeup and today I thought I’d share with you my favourite budget friendly brushes. This is basically my collection of brushes because I only ever buy reasonably priced brushes because I simply cannot afford to fork out £30+ for a makeup brush although I do still manage to find great quality brushes for a good price so keep reading if you want to know where I get them from and what I think of them.

Reach Techniques

Real Techniques is a brand I've talked about before on my blog and you will probably already know that I am a big fan. This brand was created by two Youtubers called Sam and Nic who own the channel Pixiwoo, they are both very successful makeup artists who have managed to create a great collection of amazing quality, affordable makeup brushes.

 You can buy these brushes from Boots, Feel Unique or online at realtechniques.com from roughly £5- £25 including sets.

I own a lot of Real Technique brushes and have already reviewed the majority of the ones I have in a previous post although a few of my favourites include the buffing brush (only available in core collection set) which is my go-to foundation brush for giving me a flawless finish quickly. I also love the blush brush which is a new addition to my collection and I can already see it being a staple in my routine as it’s perfect for applying blush, bronzer and powder.

These brushes have synthetic bristles which I personally prefer over natural hair bristles because the synthetic ones tend to be easier to wash and last longer.

Eco Tools

I own 2 brushes from Eco tools and I think they are a fantastic brand.

I own the large powder brush and the blush brush, I have used them both for a long time without them showing any wear or tear and I really like them. I think these are the softest brushes I own and I love the feel of them on my skin- even after washing.

This company is earth/eco-friendly and they produce cruelty-free brushes with natural and recycled materials, for example they use bamboo brush handles because it has a low impact on the earth’s resources. Basically these brushes are perfect if you like to look after your environment.

Again, the brush bristles in these brushes are synthetic which means they wash and last longer.

You can buy Eco tools brushes from Boots and also TX Max where they are often on offer making them even more affordable.

Elf (eyes face and lips)

Elf is an online makeup company that sells affordable makeup along with brushes and different tools. The brushes from Elf that I own include the eye shadow C brush, eye shadow brush, concealer brush, small angled brush, bronzing brush and 2 powder brushes.

I have mixed reviews on these brushes because I love some and hate others- for example I love the small angled brush and use it every day for applying powder to my eyebrows however I find the other brushes are not great quality and don’t work very well. The powder brushes from Elf are very popular and I understand the hype because they are great for applying foundation effortlessly however I find the bristles start falling out after about a month of purchasing which isn't great.

Overall I would recommend trying out Elf brushes if you are just starting out with makeup and want some basics at a reasonable price as they have a huge variety starting at just £2!

Primark

I have been pleasantly surprised by Primark’s new makeup and beauty launch, especially with their brushes as I find they are fantastic quality for the price, starting at just £1 per brush.

These brushes don’t have individual names however I own a few of the double ended eye shadow brushes, small stippling brushes and the large stippling brush. I find the eye shadow brushes perfect for a neat application of shadow into the crease; I personally like to have a lot of these brushes so it’s easier to use different colours on clean brushes so these ones from Primark are amazing as they only cost £1 each.

I find that the small stippling brush is perfect for blending in concealer under the eyes as it fits perfectly in the area and blends the product in well.

Finally I have the large stippling brush which I find is great for buffing foundation into the skin to give a flawless finish, I find this brush is similar to the studio powder brush from Elf however the quality of this one from Primark is better is less dense.

Ebay

The MAC 217 eye shadow blending brush is extremely popular however with its heavy price tag I have always been a little apprehensive about buying it, so when I discovered these dupes on Ebay for roughly £1 each I was very intrigued to try them out.

I am sure that they are no way near as good quality as the ones from MAC however I would recommend them if you’re after a simple eye shadow brush for an affordable price. I find after washing them a few times, they begin to feel scratchy on the skin however they still do a good job for me.

I would find it difficult just having one of these brushes as I'm forever needing a new clean one to blend out shadow so it’s great that these are cheap so I can buy a lot without having to worry about the price.

Thereare a few different sellers on ebay which keep changing however click here to see a seller that I have found recently

 Ebay also have a big variety of different affordable brushes so it’s worth having a look if you’re after a bargain.

I hope you've found this post helpful, I do own a few more brushes however they are ones that I have collected over the years without names. I wouldn't recommend going out and buying a whole set of expensive brushes just yet unless you know for certain that is what you need because you can find some great affordable brushes if you have a look around. Speak to you soon!

A Weekend In London

This weekend I visited my family and we also tied in a day in London on Sunday which was great. I've been to London the past 3 summers and I absolutely love it- the atmosphere is amazing and there are so many things to do. I took a few photos in London so I thought I’d share them with you and let you know what I got up to- enjoy!

Spitalfields Market was the first place we went to, this place is more lively on a Sunday so it's best to go here then if you plan on visiting. There are lots of independent stalls, cafes and restaurants. One of my favourite stalls was one which sold cute floral head pieces and I also found another stall and bought an old VOUGE magazine cover photograph which will look great in my room.

Brick lane is very close to Spitalfields market, again it's more livelier here on a Sunday as they have a Sunday Market which has more independent stalls and there are also many places to grab some great food including Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Thai, Japanese and many more.

I discovered a fantastic clothing stall in this market and managed to get a beautiful white lace/ crotchet skirt for just £5! 

Next was Camden! This place is known for its market and quirky atmosphere which I love, although I found this the busiest place and filled with tourists. The markets are great and you can also pick up some good street food if you're feeling hungry. I found a stall that did henna tattoos and I couldn't resist getting one. I've always wanted to try henna and thought it would be the perfect opportunity. I chose to get the words 'Smile' in Japanese (I think!!!) on my wrist which I love. 

I love going to Harrods whenever I'm in London, the atmosphere is buzzing and it’s a great ‘people watching’ place!- hahah! I did also treat myself whilst in there and bought this beautiful cream colour base from MAC in the shade Pearl. I've not used it properly yet so don’t have an opinion although I've heard lots of great reviews so I'm expecting big things. 

At the end of the day we were all very tired and in need of a quick re-fuel so we decided to go to Snog (frozen yogurt) in South Kensington. I love all the frozen yogurt places over London but I think Snog is the best- they have a variety of flavours with an even bigger variety of toppings. I decided to get a coconut frozen yogurt topped with granola, blueberries and raspberries which was very yummuy!

South Kensington was a very pretty place with a great atmosphere- there were many restaurants and shops. 

I hope you enjoyed having a look at what I got up to this weekend and found this post useful if you're planning to take a trip to London. 

Speak to you soon for a beauty post which will be up later this week- I will be sharing with you my favourite budget makeup brushes! Stay tuned :) 

What's In My Travel Makeup Bag

I'm off to visit my family this weekend and I'm also tying in a trip to London on Sunday to do a spot of shopping and exploring a few of the markets. I've been packing my things together today and thought it would be interesting to show you what I'm taking in my makeup bag for the weekend. I've got a few new things to try out along with a couple of my trusty favourites

Primers are essential if you want your makeup to last all day so I've got the Rimmel Fix & Perfect pro primer which I love and will always go back to. It’s great for people with dry to combination skin although it has a nice in between finish from matte to dewy so you can add different products to suit your preferences (for example a highlighter to add a glow or a mattifying powder)

I recently got given a sample of the Smashbox Photo Finish primer so I thought it would be a good time to try it out whilst I was away. I've heard lots of great things about this primer however I am slightly put off by its expensive price tag but I suppose I will have to wait and see how it performs until I give my opinion.

The foundation which I've been using recently is the Rimmel Wake me up simply because it’s the only foundation dark enough for my skin right now however I do really like it none the less. It’s a very lightweight, dewy foundation which I find blends effortlessly into my skin to give a light to medium coverage.

My all time favourite concealer is the Rimmel Wake me up, I use a lighter shade to brighten under my eyes and I also find it works well to cover up any spots or redness. I find this concealer has a very creamy formula which blends well and doesn't crease or stick to dry patches. Some days when I want a very easy and natural look I like to simply use this without foundation to give a fresh and clean coverage.

Next is always my eyebrows- I saw this brow pallet from Collection in Boots recently for just £2.99 and I couldn't resist trying it out and I have definitely not been disappointed. I only use the lightest shade in the pallet which I think looks very similar to Omega from MAC. Once I've applied some colour into the brows (I always use a small angled brush from Elf) I like to go ahead and use Charcoal Brown from MAC to add a little more colour and definition to the brows, this step could be optional although I prefer more colour some days. To ensure your eyebrows stay in place all day, it’s best to use a brow gel to set them into place- I like to use a cheap clear mascara which works perfectly fine for me however if you want even MORE definition, you could use a coloured setting gel such as the Gimmie Brow gel from Benefit.

I have been using my MAC eyeshadows a lot recently and I have found some very simple looks which don’t take a lot of effort or time at all to achieve. The colours I'm taking with me this weekend in my quad pallet are Naked Lunch (a perfect brow highlight or all over lid shimmer), Satin Taupe (beautiful blended into the crease then with Naked Lunch above on the brow bone), Cranberry (a new addition to my collection which I'm ready to experiment with) and finally Charcoal Brown (for my eyebrows or simply blended into the crease along with Satin Taupe.)

My holy- grail mascara is obviously coming along with me this weekend- Benefit They’re Real mascara gives me amazing, voluminous, separated and extremely defined lashes which last all day long. I do love a few other mascaras however I can always tell a difference whenever I use this Benefit one, the results are great and I couldn't recommend it enough.

You may know from my previous posts that I am a big eye liner beginner although I have finally found one that I really like and can achieve some ‘ok’ results with! This Eyeko skinny liquid liner is very good for creating a neat, thin line without too much effort. I think I prefer this to the Benefit They’re Real Liner which has had a lot more ‘hype’ but I personally find that one extremely difficult to apply and very annoying to remove!

Blush is something I never thought I’d get into because I always found they made me look like I was very embarrassed or like I was about to perform in a circus! Although now I've got this beautiful one from Chanel, I think I'm converted. It adds a nice, subtle flush to the cheeks to make me look more ‘awake’ and healthy.

I think everyone should carry a powder with them, whether you have oily or dry skin you can still end up looking a little shiny throughout the day so it’s handy to keep one in your bag just in case. I've used the Rimmel Stay Matte powder for years and I still can’t fault it, it does exactly what it says on the packaging and is a great, affordable product for everyone. Many people who want to achieve the ‘dewy skin look’ don’t think they need powder however by simply applying some to your T-zone, it won’t affect your glow, it will just ensure your radiance looks natural and not shiny.

I take a lip balm with me everywhere and they are very handy to keep in your handbag on days out. My lips get dry quickly so it’s nice to have a moisturising lip balm handy; the one I've got here is the Nuxe Reve de miel which I got whilst on holiday in France this year.

The final thing I've got to show you is this lip tint from Benefit- it can be used on both the lips and cheeks however I prefer to just use it on the lips. I like to use this rather than a lipstick because it lasts a lot longer and you don’t have to worry about eating or drinking whilst you have it on like you would with a bold lipstick.

I thought I’d show you what I'm going to be carrying my makeup in- I got this pouch as a gift from a friend and I find it perfect for travelling. It’s got two big compartments inside and I like to keep my makeup on one side and my brushes on the other. With other makeup bags that I've owned in the past, they haven’t been big enough to keep my brushes inside as well so this one is great and it isn't too big at the same time as it folds up neatly and is very compact.

I hope you've enjoyed having a nosey inside my makeup bag and that you all have a good weekend- speak to you soon!