As many of you know, I study hair and media makeup at college so I am always testing out new products and adding to my ever growing kit.
I am always changing up my own makeup routine and trying new things so I love to share what products really stand out to me so I can hopefully help others who are uncertain of what products are worth their price tag and which aren't.
Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake, Thunder
I love filling in my eyebrows to give a clean and crisp finish and I have tried so many brow products but recently I feel like I have got myself into the perfect brow routine and I love the products I use. To add colour and shape I love to use Illamasqua's eyebrow cake in Thunder which is a matte brown powder that has a soft, thick consistency making it easy to gently draw subtle hairs or alternatively layer up or use with a wet brush to give a more defined result.
Although £17.50 is a lot of money for an eyebrow powder, I personally think that for the money you get a lot of product that will last you a long time as you only ever use a small amount each time.
Maybelline Brow Drama, Medium Brown
My eyebrows are naturally very thick and I can never go without setting the hairs into place after applying a brow powder- I love using Maybelline Brow Drama brow gel which sets the hairs into place all day long whilst also adding extra definition and colour. This is by far the best brow gel I have tried and beats any expensive alternatives like Benefit Gimmie Brow which I personally think doesn't compare to how great this one from Maybelline is.
L'oreal False Lash Superstar Mascara
L'oreal recently launched a new mascara, False Lash Superstar, that has two wands, one being a white coating priming wand and the other being a normal black mascara. My first impressions of this weren't great as I found the white coating wand to make my lashes thick and clumpy and then giving a horrible base for the following mascara however after speaking to a friend who has also been testing this mascara out and told me to try applying the second black wand straight away on top of the white coat instead of doing both eyes with the primer then going to the black coat as this lets the white coat time to set which dries out the lashes and gives a clumpy base.
I love using this mascara when I want to have long lasting, thick, separated defined lashes that I know will stay in place all day/night long. I have also just bought a back up for when my current one runs out as I love it so much and can see myself using it again and again.
Urban Decay Naked Basics 2
Urban Decay are mainly known for their popular Naked pallets that contain 12 eye-shadows and will cost you a hefty £38 per pallet. I have never used one of their main pallets, mainly because of the price tag and because I usually tend to stick with MAC eye-shadow and I prefer to pick out colours that I know I will use enough for them to be worth the money.
On the other hand, Urban Decay also have smaller Naked pallets containing 6 shadows which are nude and basic shades that are great for everyday wear and will cost you a friendlier £23.
I was given the Naked Basics 2 pallet for my 18th birthday earlier in the year and I really love it.
The quality of these shadows is great and they have a 'buttery' consistency which makes blending the colours very easy and good for using on the go- especially with the handy mirror in the compact. My favourite and most used shades in the pallet are Skimp, Frisk and Cover although I use all the shades and couldn't pick out a bad one.
MAC Fluidline, Blackstrack
When it comes to eyeliner, I only ever use gel and it will usually always be MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack which I think is a must have essential in anyone's makeup kit. Blacktrack is a classic black gel eyeliner that I couldn't complete any smoky eye without! I love to use it with my Ben Nye AB-4 small angled brush to give the perfect sleek winged liner.
I think that the MAC Fluidline gel liners are worth the money because a small pot will last you a very long time as you only use a small amount each application and the product stays at the right consistency without drying out over time unlike many cheaper gel pot eye liners.
MAC Heroine Lipstick (Matte)
I have only owned this lipstick for a few weeks although I'm already in love with the bright purple, long lasting colour. I love wearing bold lipstick but I usually find it difficult to find bold, summer appropriate colours that aren't bright neon pink and orange that usually wash me out.
MAC Heroine is my perfect summer bold lipstick and I love how unique and different it is to any other lipsticks that I have already in my collection. Heroine is a matte formula which means it is very long lasting and like many other MAC matte lipsticks, this stains your lips even after removing the main colour which you may take as a good or bad thing!:')
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge & The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist
Finally, I wanted to mention a way that I have been loving to apply my makeup and that has been to use the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge sprayed with The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist which helps dampen the sponge to prevent any makeup being absorbed and wasted on the sponge and to also give some extra hydration to the face.
I was very intrigued to see how the makeup sponge would perform as I had never used one before and I have been very impressed. I have found the sponge to help blend my foundation into the skin flawlessly and also to be great for blending cream contour and highlight.
You can of course simply use water to get the sponge wet however I have found that using the face mist from The Body Shop works wonders paired with the sponge to also help hydrate my face.
What makeup products have you been loving recently? Let me know in the comments below! :)
