My Eyebrow Routine

Eyebrows are a big deal in the makeup world- everybody is obsessed with their brows and we are constantly searching for the perfect products and technique to help us achieve a super sleek and sharp brow. I always get asked questions about eyebrows... what products do I use? how do I fill them in? how do I maintain the shape? .. the list could go on and on!
In this post I will be revealing my eyebrow secrets and giving you tips along the way of how to achieve your perfect arch.

Everybody has their own technique and preferences when it comes to eyebrows and this method is how I personally prefer my brows to look. Eyebrows really help to frame your face and I cannot imagine doing my makeup without filling them in.

Maintaining the Shape 
I always recommend getting your eyebrows professionally shaped at least once or twice to give you a good start to then follow at home with tweezers or like me, to get them professionally shaped every 1-3 months.
The three methods of eyebrow shaping are waxing, threading and plucking. I personally prefer to get my eyebrows threaded because I think that it is the most precise method of hair removal and is less harsh on your skin compared to waxing. Threading is a great method because the technique requires no product on your skin which means less chance of a reaction. I get my eyebrows threaded at Benito Brow Bar (Debhanams) every 2-3 months.

Filling them in 
I am constantly switching up the products that I use on my brows and I am currently using an eyebrow cake from Illamasqua in the shade Thunder, however I also like to use the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow pomade which is a great product.

I start by taking my Zoeva 317 wing liner brush and roughly outline my natural brow shape. I start from the underneath and then move to the arch. Once I have the outline, I then lightly stroke the powder through the rest of my brows until the product is evenly applied.

To get rid of the harsh line on the bottom half of my brow, I grab my 2.1 brow teaser from MyKitCo and thoroughly brush the product upwards. I then carry on and brush through all the powder applied on my brows and keep adding and brushing until I am happy. This makes a mess but don't worry- I'll be cleaning it up in a minute.

Whenever I use a powder like the Illamasqua brow cake to fill in my brows I always like to use a setting gel to keep the product in place. Any brow gel/ clear mascara will do the trick- I use Rimmel's Brow This Way clear brow mascara which is great.
On the other hand, if I choose to use a product like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow pomade I would skip this step as that product is gel based which means it sets and lasts longer on its own.

To clean up all the mess and excess product that has been pushed above and underneath my brow, I use a concealer. Using a concealer will help to give your eyebrows a sharp finish and it will also help you to achieve a bold shape.
Any concealer will do and today I decided to use the Urban Decay Naked Skin which I really love at the moment. If you want to create a subtle highlight on your brow bone, then you should use a concealer one or two shades lighter than your skin tone to shape underneath your brow.
Once I have applied the concealer to give a precise shape, I then grab a small buffing brush like the Zoeva 142 concealer buffer and buff away until all the harsh edges have disappeared.

If I want my eyebrows to stand out even more or for them to compliment a dramatic smoky eye then I always add a pop of shimmer. You can use any highlighter you want but I think that MAC's Vanilla pigment is the best product to use underneath the brow to add a little sparkle of something special. Simply dust the product on your brow bone to make your eyes pop!

Products mentioned above: Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer- fair/neutral,
Rimmel Brow this way-clear,
MAC Pigment-Vanilla,
Illamasqua Multi Face pallet- Semblance
Zoeva 142 Concealer buffer
Zoeva 317 Wing liner
MyKitCo 2.1 Brow teaser

My NYX Lip Cream & Gloss Collection

NYX cosmetics is a brand that I had not heard of this time last year although as it has slowly made its way to the UK, I have quickly become obsessed with their high quality affordable makeup.
More and more NYX makeup counters are popping up across the country and I am lucky enough to live in the city where the first UK counter launched last November.

NYX is known for its professional, high quality makeup at accessible prices whilst keeping up with current trends with their bright and unique products. You can now buy NYX makeup in the UK from Boots, Selfridges, Feel unique.com, Very and Asos.

If I could recommend just one item that you must try from NYX then it would be one of their lip products. They have a fantastic range of lip products in all different colours and formulas which means that almost everybody would be able to find their perfect lipstick.
The matte lip creams and butter glosses are my personal favourite and I have gradually built up a small collection that I want to share with you today.

These lip creams and glosses cost just over £5 which I think is a great deal considering that they are just as good as many other high end alternatives that cost more than half the price- I even prefer these to some of the expensive alternatives that I have tried!

Butter Gloss, Madeleine (14)
This is the latest addition to my collection and after trying it just once, I already love it. If you want to achieve a super glossy brown nude lip then this one is for you! I love these NYX butter glosses because unlike many other lip glosses, they are extremely pigmented and aren't too sticky.

Soft Matte Lip Cream, London (04)
Brown toned lipstick is a very current trend and this lip cream is the perfect product to help you achieve the popular Kylie Jenner inspired pout. This looks great worn alone however if you fancy a glossier look, you could layer on top the Madeline butter gloss to give a plump finish.

Soft Matte Lip Cream, Stockholm (02)
If you aren't quite ready to rock a straight brown lip but still want to experiment with the trend then this pink toned brown lip cream is a great choice. I love to wear Stockholm in the day time when I don't want anything too bold on my lips but I still want something there.
This shade is very similar to the MAC lipstick in Velvet Teddy which I love to wear underneath this to add extra lasting power to make my lips last all day long (even when eating and drinking- it's amazing!)

Soft Matte Lip Cream, Milan (11)
Milan is a very sweet candy pink shade that is great if you want to add a subtle pop of colour to your look. I love to use this one pale skin tones for a sweet pink lip.

Soft Matte Lip Cream, Copenhagen (20)
Similar to the MAC lipstick shades in Rebel and Media, Copenhagen lip cream is a fantastic deep berry shade that is the ultimate autumn and winter lip colour. I personally love to wear lip colours like this and I have gotten a lot of wear out of it when I want to achieve a statement berry lip.

Intense Butter Gloss, Berry Strudel (02)
If you know me then you will know that I love to rock a crazy statement lip every now and again. One of my favourite statement lip colours is purple and I could not resist picking up this bright neon purple lip gloss when I spotted it at the NYX counter.
I usually prefer my statement bold lips to have a matte finish which makes them easier to wear and they tend to have a better lasting power, having said this I was willing to try something new and see how a statement lip gloss would work.
Berry Strudel is an intense butter gloss and unfortunately it is extremely sticky and it can be very messy to apply and wear. Although I don't like the formula, the pigment pay off is like no other lip gloss I have tried before- it is outstanding. I probably won't be wearing this myself however I am sure that it will not go to waste and I will be able find a use for it in my fashion makeup looks.

Butter Gloss, Peach Cobbler (06)
In comparison to the dark Copenhagen lip cream, this peachy butter gloss screams summer and all things bright. Peach Cobbler butter gloss is comfortable to wear and the colour always stays put. This shade is really lovely and I am sure that I will be getting a lot of wear out of it over the next few months as we approach summer.

Have you tried any of the NYX Cosmetics lip products? Let me know in the comments! :)

Birchbox at Selfridges

I was recently in the Trafford Centre shopping centre when I noticed a pop up Birchbox stand outside Selfridge's and I couldn't help myself finding out what it was all about....

Birchbox is a beauty subscription box that is delivered to your doorstep every month or so. The idea is to find beauty products that work for you- Birchbox will send you 5 luxe beauty treats monthly from new brands and much loved brands. You say what your preferences are and explain a little about yourself so that you get sent the products that will work best for you.

Unfortunately you are unable to pick and choose the products you receive however I think that this way people will be more willing to try new products that they wouldn't have chosen themselves- and maybe discover something new!
Although you are unable to choose the products yourself, Birchbox have a great team who will listen and consider your needs before deciding what products to put inside your box. For example if you let Birchbox know that your hair often feels dry and lifeless, they may send you over a luxury moisturising hair mask to try out.

I have always been put off by subscription boxes like this in the past because I thought that I wouldn't be impressed with the products and brands who work with the company however I was pleasantly surprised to see how many well known brands and collaborations have been involved with this box.
Birchbox works with some fantastic brands including Benefit, Eve Lom, This Works, Laura Mercier, Nuxe, Lord & Berry and many more.

At the pop up Birchbox stand you were able to pick and choose 6 items to put inside your box which makes a change to their usual service where the products are custom chose for you. The box was £15 and considering some of the products available were worth over £15- I knew that I couldn't leave empty handed. Taking this great opportunity I decided to pick up a great selection of products which I will talk you through now!...

EVE LOM Kiss Mix Lip Balm
This minty moisturising lip balm claims to keep lips moisturised, soft and hydrated whilst defends against dryness and chapping. I have heard many beauty bloggers rave about this lip balm and when I noticed that this was a full size product originally priced at  £16, I could not resist picking it up.(especially since the box only cost me £15- what a great deal!)

OLEHENRIKSEN Truth Serum, Collagen Booster
I love to thoroughly look after my skin as I believe that a good skincare routine can do wonders and be a massive help when it comes to applying a flawless face of makeup. I don't currently use a serum in my skincare routine so I decided to pick up this vitamin C collagen booster serum which says it leaves skin nourished, protected and radiant. Sounds good to me- I am looking forward to using it.

This Works, Deep Sleep Pillow Spray
I don't know about you but I often go through phases when I find it almost impossible to get a good nights sleep which leaves me restless and often in a bad mood the next day. Anything that claims to help you sleep is worth a try so I decided to pick up this deep pillow spray which contains lavender, vetivert and wild chamomile which helps to naturally soothe the body and mind- helping you relax and fall asleep more quickly than usual.
Fingers crossed it works!

Model Co Power Lash Black Mascara
I love mascara and I am never too fussy when it comes to it so I thought that I would give this one from Model Co a go. It claims to be super long lasting, extra black and extra dramatic so I have high hopes!

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
I have been thinking of adding a liquid exfoliant into my skincare routine ever since reading about their benefits from Caroline Hirons blog. Caroline has a great skincare blog which has helped me a lot over the years and I think that you should definitely check it out if you haven't already!
BHA is a clinically proven blemish-buster whilst also increases collagen production for smoother skin. This fact alone made me want it and I am excited to see if I can spot the results from using it after a few weeks.

Laura Mercier Lip Glace, Nectar
Proving my point that Birchbox works with some fantasic brands, I was happy to see that I could pick up this mini Laura Mercier lip gloss at the Birchbox pop up stand. I know that this will be perfect to throw in my handbag and I also love the pretty peachy colour which will be great to wear this spring.

That is what I got inside my Birchbox and if you like the sound of receiving your own box filled with luxury beauty products to try out then head over to birchbox.co.uk now to sign up!