My MAC Eye Shadow Collection

MAC are well known for their great eye shadows and I absolutely love them- the pigmentation and quality is amazing and there is a massive range of colours to choose from.

I seem to have collected quite a few eye shadows from MAC so I thought I’d write a post all about them and tell you which ones are my favourites.

 These shadows are not the cheapest on the market however I do believe that you are paying for the quality which you definitely receive, I am also slowly attempting to build up my kit as an aspiring make-up artist (I am currently studying hair& media make-up in college) so this may be why I own slightly more make-up than your average teenage girl. I also currently own a MAC pro student card which gives me a small discount so I was recently very lucky and managed to add a few new colours to my eye shadow palette so thought this post would be a great way of letting you know what I think about them all.

Naked Lunch – Minimal pink with shimmer
This is a beautiful champagne pink colour with a nice icy shimmer. I would say this is a must –have for me as I find myself using it all the time as either a base or a slight highlight above the brow bone, my favourite combination is Naked Lunch applied all over the base then Satin Taupe blended through the crease- it’s my go to easy eye look which always gets plenty of compliments!

Carbon – Intense black
I've only recently got my hands on this shadow after wanting it for so long but always being distracted by more exciting colours however I picked it up the other week and I am so glad I did because it has been so useful! It’s a strong matte black that I'm sure everyone would find a use for one day; I especially like to use it as a relaxed eye liner if I don’t want to go for a neat liquid line.

Fresh Water – Bright summer blue
Fresh Water is probably one of the brightest shadows I own but I absolutely love it! It’s extremely well pigmented and leaves a beautiful shimmery/almost metallic icy blue on the eyes. I've only recently got this one but I can imagine it looking great against a deep skin tone and brown eyes or it could also be used as an eye liner to add a small amount of colour to any look.

Red Brick – Orange red
This one seems scary and I am slightly scared however I've heard so many fantastic make-up artists like Tanya Burr rave about this eye shadow and I've always been intrigued as to what looks I could create with it. It seems to be the perfect autumn colour and I think it would look great along with brown and bronze colours.

Cranberry- Red- plum with pink shimmer
I think Cranberry would be the perfect eye shadow for someone who likes colour but isn't brave enough to go for something like Red Brick or Fresh Water. This shadow will compliment many different skin tones- it will make light eyes pop but it will also warm up darker skin tones whilst adding a sparkle.

Shroom- Soft beige with shimmer
A newbie and a very popular one for me! I find this isn't too shimmery so it’s perfect as a highlight on the brow bone or pressed into the inner corner to open up the eyes. Shroom could also easily double up as a face highlight on the tops of cheekbones, down the nose or on the cupids bow.

Embark- Intense redish- brown
A gorgeous dark brown with purple undertones that works perfectly to achieve a smoky eye. Like all MAC shadows, the pigmentation is great and it pays off just as you see it in the pan. This is a matte formula which is great for people who don’t like shimmery eyes.

Satin Taupe- Taupe with silver shimmer
If I had to pick one eye shadow to use for the rest of my life it would probably be this one (yes, I love it that much!!!) – As I said before, Satin Taupe paired with Naked Lunch gives me my perfect eye and I couldn't recommend the two enough.  This is a wonderful colour for everyone to have in their collection and it works for both day and night so is very versatile.

Brun- Muted blackish-brown
Another new one that I received in my college kit and haven’t properly tested out yet however it seems to be a great crease colour for darker eyes and would also be great for filling in darker brows.

Charcoal Brown- Muted taupe brown
I use this colour almost every day to fill in my brows and I love it, it’s the perfect brow colour for anyone with medium brown- brown hair depending on how natural you like your eyebrows to be. Charcoal brown also looks lovely blended through the crease along with other shades to create a natural smoky eye.

----------------------------------That’s all the MAC eye shadows that I own right now, I hope you've found this post useful if you’re stuck with which one to buy next. Are there any missing colours here that you think I would love? Let me know in the comments and you may be able to persuade me! :) 

My Top 5 Autumn & Winter Lipstick Picks

We’re now officially in autumn which is my favourite season so I thought I’d share with you my top 5 lipstick picks for autumn and winter as I love experimenting with vampy looks during the colder months and these lipsticks are great for adding a pop to your makeup.

MAC, Russian Red

You may have guessed Russian Red would pop up somewhere in this post as I'm constantly saying how much I love it and it’s also a very well known & popular MAC lipstick that many people own. The lipstick has a matte formula however it’s not drying on the lips at all. If I'm after a classic red this is the one I always reach for, I find it very flattering and I always feel confident when wearing it. This lipstick gives anyone that old effortless Hollywood look, lasts a long time and suits all skin types.

MAC, Rebel

This is my top pick when I'm after a long lasting colour as I find it always lasts the longest out of all of my lipsticks. Many people may be put off by the colour in the stick of the lipstick as it looks very dark, however once applied to the lips it creates a beautiful deep, pink toned purple that isn't too OTT! Overall I absolutely love MAC lipsticks, the quality is fantastic and there is a massive range to choose from so you will always be able to find the perfect one for you.

Rimmel Kate Moss, 107

This is a very hyped lipstick in the blogging community and I completely get the hype! The colour is similar to MAC Rebel so if you’re after something slightly cheaper, this is a great alternative. I would say 107 is a more plum and pink toned dark burgundy so if you think that would suit you better, you should go for this one. The formula is slightly drying on my lips however the colour stays put for a long time. I think that this lipstick is amazing; I find the quality nearly as good as MAC but it comes without the heavy price tag so it’s great if you’re looking for something more affordable.

Avon Temptress

I've had this next lipstick in my collection for a while but have never reached for it as I've always been put off by its colour in the stick although when applied to the lips it bleeds a deep pink toned purple- again very similar to MAC Rebel however this one is much darker. I would say this lipstick would look great on darker skin tones and would also be something fun to experiment with over Halloween. I love the formula of this lipstick as I find it very creamy on the lips and is surprisingly easy to apply.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet, Hot Pepper

Finally I have a new discovery from Bourjois, this is one of their new (ish?) long lasting matte lipsticks that apply like a lipgloss. I've seen a few different brands selling lipsticks like this and I have been intrigued to see how they perform- I definitely wasn't disappointed with this one! This is probably the brightest lipstick I'm mentioning today and it may be more suited to spring/ summer however I couldn't help myself from mentioning it as I love it so much! It glides on smoothly and feels very creamy on the lips, once applied the colour almost magically turns matte and lasts all day long- what more could you ask for?!

So there you have my 5 top lipstick picks for autumn and winter, I hope you enjoyed reading this post from me and maybe I have temped you to go out and buy one of these beauties above to add to your collection ! :) 

Nivea Skincare Discovery- Deal Of The Week

Hello everyone! I am very sorry for my lack of posts recently however I have been very busy and am still adjusting to starting college but now I'm back and ready with lots of exciting upcoming posts.

I had a spare afternoon in town the other day so I decided to have a wonder around Boots to see if I could find any good offers or something new that I hadn't tried out before. Nivea currently have a 2 for £5 offer on selected facial skincare so I decided to have a look and I was pleasantly surprised to see that I could pick up a primer and a moisturiser on this offer when they were both originally £4.99 (roughly) each.  I got the Nivea daily essentials rich moisturising day cream and the Nivea daily essentials express hydration primer which are both for dry & sensitive skin and both 50ml.

The moisturising day cream claims to intensively moisturise and nourish the skin with natural almond oil. I really liked using this moisturiser as it feels very thick when you apply it however it quickly sinks into the skin leaving you with a super soft and hydrated feeling. Many moisturisers suited for dry skin tend to be very heavy and take time to skin into the skin however I found this one acted very fast but still did a great job. Another thing I love about this moisturiser is that it has an SPF meaning it will help protect your skin from the sun; some people may think SPF is not necessary as we are approaching winter although you’re face is the most exposed part of your body to the sunlight and you should be cautious all year round to protect your skin.

Now onto the primer which is the product I am most impressed about- I didn't know that Nivea sold primers in their skincare range so I was very interested to see how it performed. You may already know from my previous posts that I love the Rimmel Fix & Perfect pro primer which is roughly £6 however I do find that it runs out quickly and you don’t get enough product for your money.  I am very impressed so far with the Nivea express hydration primer and may even prefer it to my trusty Rimmel one, the formula is very creamy and blends well into the skin. I have found a little goes a long way with this product so I can see the tub lasting me a long time which is great. Performance wise this primer works well, my makeup seems to last most of the day and products apply nicely ontop.

Overall I am very impressed with these skincare products from Nivea and I will definitely be re- purchasing them both again even without the offer as they have really stood out to me as a great little find.

I hope you enjoyed this post and I will speak to you soon :) 

Back To School/ College Makeup Tutorial

It’s that time of year again when schools start back or you may just be heading back to work after a short break. I thought I’d show you a nice, fresh and subtle makeup look that anyone can pull off and would be perfect for school, college or work.

I understand that many high school students are not allowed to wear makeup so this look may not be suitable however it would still be a great look to wear day-to day or you could possibly adapt my look to make it acceptable for your school rules.  

I am starting college in a few weeks so this is the makeup I will probably wear as it’s very easy to achieve, quick and fresh.

Before I started, I ensured my skin was properly prepped and I moisturised my face with The Body Shop Vitamin E moisturiser, it doesn't matter what skin type you have, all skin needs to maintain moisture. Keeping your skin hydrated is essential and it will make your makeup application a lot easier and the final result will look better.  

Many people skip primers in their makeup routine as they can be expensive although the Fix & Perfect Pro from Rimmel is a great affordable option that works with all skin types. I love this primer and I always find myself going back to it when I've run out. Primers should be used after moisturising and before make up, they ensure that your makeup stays in place for a longer time and also help your makeup application a lot smoother.

Rimmel Wake me Up foundation is my favourite foundation right now as it gives me a radiant glow and blends into my skin effortlessly. Everyone has their own preferences so you should go for a foundation that you know suits your skin and is a good colour match- you want to feel relaxed at school without worrying about your makeup so you should choose something you know works for you. I used the Real Techniques Buffing brush to blend in my foundation as it gives a very flawless finish quickly.

Back to school means early mornings so you may want to use a concealer under your eyes to make your face appear more awake, I used the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer as it’s not too thick and wont crease as the eye area is very delicate so you don’t want anything too heavy. To blend this in you could either use your fingers, or I used a small stippling brush from Primark which I find is the perfect shape for getting under the eye.

Collection Lasting Perfection concealer is a great affordable product if you have any spots or blemishes that you want to cover up as it gives high coverage which lasts all day.

For my eyebrows I like to start by brushing through them with a brow comb to ensure there is no product in them and that the hairs are all going in the right direction. I then used the Collection Work the Colour eyebrow kit and took the lightest shade in the pallet and used it to fill in my brows with a small angled brush. You should use a matte shadow that matches your natural hair colour, I like this pallet as it has 3 different shades for different hair colours. I then took Charcoal Brown eye shadow from MAC and used it to add more colour and definition to my brows however this step could be skipped. Finally for my eyebrows, I took this clear mascara from Miss Sporty and lightly sweeped the brush through my brows to keep them in place.

Next I like to go back to my face and add a little more colour and glow, you may not have time to do these few steps but that doesn't matter as they are not essential. MAC Cream colour base in the shade Pearl is a cream highlighter which I like to apply onto the top of my cheekbones, down my nose and above my lips to add some extra glow in all the right places. I applied the product with my fingers then blended it in with a Real Techniques Contour brush.

Using the Real Techniques Blush Brush and my Chanel blush in Jersey Peche I added a subtle flush of colour to the apples of my cheeks.

We are just coming out of the summer so you may want to still have a bronzed and glowly look so I would recommend going for a matte, natural bronzer like this one from The Body Shop. I used the same brush that I used for my blush and sweeped some bronzer across my cheeks and lightly all over my face.

I used my favourite mascara which is the Benefit They’re Real mascara to achieve big, voluminous lashes which will last me all day long.

Lip sticks/ glosses are not essential for me so for this look I just used a lip blam to hydrate my lips and I would make sure I keep it with me to top up during the day.

Finally you may want to add some powder to your face to keep the shine away; I like to apply powder to my T-zone so I can still achieve a natural glow but in the right places. Rimmel Stay Matte powder is a great and affordable product that keeps the shine at bay!

I hope you enjoyed this post from me and picked up a few tips and tricks. Good luck to everyone starting back at school, college or work.

“An expert in anything was once a beginner” 

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.