Beauty ¦ Clarins instant concealer

 

I've realised that I have mentioned this concealer a lot since I bought it however I haven't dedicated a whole post to it so today I thought it was about time that I reviewed it for you. I have become a little addicted to buying concealer recently and this is definitely the best one that I have picked up in the past few months and I think I'd actually go as far to say it is my favourite concealer that I have ever tried.

 

I think the main thing I love about this is the fact that the texture is so light yet the coverage is so high. I find the majority of concealers I try to just be to thick and they always seem to end up looking really cakey and clinging to any dry patches. I feel like this concealer works along side my dry skin without making it look dry yet it still offers the coverage I need. I would say that this is definitely a high coverage product that works well for both blemishes and under the eyes. The only bug bear I have is the packaging although the squeezy tube is incredibly hygienic it can be hard to control how much product comes out, and I have had a few occasions when I have ended up squeezing out far to much.

 

The lasting power of this is also really impressive I find on a good day I can get a good 6 hours out of it looking perfect and another couple before it begins to look really messy. I do find however it does disappear of my nose at around the 5-6 hour mark as this is the only place I ever really develop any oiliness. Also for the price you get 15ml of product which I think is pretty fab as most concealers are aorund the 7ml mark.

 

Overall if you are on the lookout for a high end concealer I would highly recommend this one. Althoug if you are an oiler skinned gal I would definitely recommend giving a sample a go first just to check the lasting power.



Beauty ¦ Soap and Glory Brow archery

I think along with the Anastasia brow wiz this has to be one of the most hyped brow pencils out there. I've been meaning to get my hands on it since people started talking about it but my local boots doesn't stock soap and glory and so I never got round to picking it up. However I now have it and in all honesty I'm not sure how I feel about it. I love the concept of having the choice of the pencil and the marker and I actually really like the formula. The pencil end isn't to waxy or slippy but it's not so firm that it gives the a very patchy messy look to the brow. I also really love the felt tip end for adding a little bit of thickness to the front of the brow and for on super natural days. However the colour is so off. I picked up Brownie points which is the darker of the two shades and it is in no way anywhere near dark enough.

The brown is actually so light that I could definitely imagine someone who has very dark blond or light brown hair definitely getting away for this. As it's so light the fact that is ashy toned as well makes my brows look like they have a strange grey tinge to them. Also because the colour is so light and my brows are so dark it leaves them looking really patchy and weird. I honestly am really upset that I am not a fan of the colour as I really love the formula. I think if you have lighter brows than me (Mine are practically black just for reference.) you would probably really enjoy this and I'm just hoping that in the future they bring out some more shades.

Beauty ¦ The skincare routine

I'm pretty sure I've never actually done a skincare routine on my blog as I've never really stuck to a routine ever. However in the past couple of months I've been religiously using skincare and I've found it has made a massive difference to my skin. So today I thought I'd show you the products I've really been loving and using religiously.

Cleanser - Una Brennan Vitamin C cleansing oil.

This is my second bottle of this stuff and I am definitely going to buy a new bottle when I am finished with this one. I am a religious wearer of Benefit They're real and this takes it off no problem. I absolutely love the scent however the one thing I hate is the packaging. This is no way travel friendly packaging as it leaks everywhere other than that though I really love it.

Exfoliating - Nip and Fab Glycolic fix daily cleansing pads.

My skin is usually pretty good with everything however it really hates actual physical exfoliators they make my skin red raw. However I do feel that my skin needs a little exfoliation. I am honestly 100% converted to chemical exfoliators these pads make my skin look so glowy and leave it feeling very clean but not stripped. These are also super affordable considering what you can end up paying for chemical exfoliators (I'm looking at you Liquid gold)

Toning - Liz Earle Instant boost skin tonic spritz.

This one is probably a little bit of an unnecessary step in my routine however I just love giving my face a quick spritz. This has a really lovely scent and feels really lovely and cooling on the skin.

Treatment - La roche posay Effaclar duo.

I have no idea why it took me so long to try this. Everyone says how brilliant it is for clearing up acne and acne scaring and I can honestly say that it has worked wonders for me. I had very heavy acne scaring on my cheeks and chin and it has really helped to fade it massively. I've also found that since starting using it I haven't had a proper breakout and overall my skin has just been much clearer.

Moisturiser -  Embroyolisse Lait creme concentrate.

I gave this a go as Pixiwoo are always talking about it and I completely see why. It's an incredibly hydrating moisturiser without being heavy. It works so beautifully under makeup but I also love using it at night. It also doesn't irritate my eczema which a lot of moisturisers do.

Oil - Perricone MD Chia serum.

Oh my lord this little bottle is pricey but so lovely at the same time. I must admit I've had this bottle since way before Christmas and it's still got about 1/3 of the product left. I feel like this is the other product that has made the most obvious difference to my skin. It is such a beautiful oil which has not only helped with my dehydrated skin but I've also found that it has really helped with reducing breakouts.


I'd love to know what skincare products you guys love!



Beauty ¦ Bloggers made me buy it.

There are so many products that I have bought because of blogger hype, I usually manage to restrain myself in the peak of the hype but I always end up giving in. Today I thought I would show you some of the products that I have bought because of the blogger hype.

 

Urban Decay Naked 1 -

 

The hype that this palette gets is ridiculous and when I started blogging it was surrounded by even more hype and I literally begged my grandma to buy me this palette for Christmas. Now don't get me wrong I don't use it as much as I did however I do still reach for it and I still really love all the shades. I really think it is a good first high palette as it has such a lovely mix of very complimentary shades.

 

Stila In the light palette -

 

This is another one of those crazy hyped palettes. This one includes the infamous kitten shadow which is one of the prettiest shadows that I have ever used. I don't use this one as much however I do really the shadows especially the shade sunset which is a beautiful orange-y copper shade.

 

La Girl pro concealers -

 

These are new additions to my collection as I was so intrigued by them. In the end I ordered mine of amazon, the first one I ordered was natural which came and I realized it was far to dark so I went and reordered one and I went for the shade porcelain. A lot of people use these for contouring however porcelain is the lightest shade and it is in no way light enough for me to highlight with me. I do like the formula of these however it is in no way anywhere near on my list of favourites.

 

Anastasia Dip brow -

 

I think this is one of the most hyped products at the moment, I went for the shade medium brown and it is a little to dark however I really love the formula and it's the brow product I've been reaching for on a day to day basis. It isn't one for people who like subtle brows however I like my brow to be super defined so it is perfect for me.

 

Maxfactor Miracle touch creamy blush -

 

I bought this because of how much Vivianna does makeup used to talk about them. This blush has such a lovely formula and is perfect for travel as it is so tiny. It's not my most favourite cream blush formula as I find it doesn't dry down as much as some of my others so I tend to only reach for it when I'm going for a super fresh glowy look.

 

Soap and Glory Brow archery -

 

This is another one that I'm not sure how I feel about it. The formula of the pencil is really lovely and I really like the felt tip however the shade of the pencil is just to light for me I find it makes such little difference on my brows as they are super dark anyway. However I do find myself reaching for it on the days when I want a really light look.

 

 

Nars Sheer glow -

 

This was the first high end foundation I tried as when I asked on twitter what would be the best foundation to buy for prom I'm pretty sure a good 99% of people said that I had to try this one and I have to say it didn't disappoint. It is the most stunning high coverage foundation. It isn't in anyway sheer at all. In terms of glowiness it isn't as glowy as the likes if Urban decay naked skin however it isn't super flat and matte.  

 

Sleek matte me in Birthday suit -

 

I can't remember who I saw talking about this but the minute I saw it I knew that I needed it. It's the most beautiful browny pink nude and I honestly wear it at least three times a week. The formula of these is also really lovely and I actually picked up another shade as they are so lovely and comfortable to wear.

 

Charlotte tilbury Lip cheat in Pillow talk -

 

This was an Amelia Liana inspired purchase and I'm so glad I have it. It's the perfect liner to overline my lips with which is good for me as I have the wonkiest top lip ever. This shade is such a lovely pinky nude and I honestly wear it under like a good 70% of my lipsticks.

 

 

So that's it for today I really hope you guys enjoyed this post, I'd love to know what products you've bought because of blogger hype

 



Beauty ¦ High end vs Highstreet - Mac vs Makeup geek

So I'm not a fan of Mac eyeshadows I know shoot me but they are just something I never reach for. Don't get me wrong I don't hate them I just don't think that they are worth the crazy amount of hype that they get so today I thought I would do a little battle between the Mac shadows I have and the Makeup geek shadows I have.

 

 

Round one - Price

 

The Winner - Makeup geek

Makeup geek has to win hands down on this one, their shadows are half the price of Mac coming in at just £4.95 for their basic pan shadows. Even their foiled shadows are only £7.95 which is still £2 cheaper than Mac

 

Round two - Shade selection

 

The Winner - Mac

I cannot deny that Mac's shade range is incredible. Whilst makeup geek's shadows come in a crazy amount of shades Mac's selection is even bigger. Literally you can pick up any shade you could ever dream of from Mac.

 

Round 3 - Pigmentation

 

The Winner - Makeup geek

Now don't get me wrong I've tried a lot more than Makeup geek shadows than I have Mac but I've never been that impressed with Mac's pigmentation. The ones I own are okay and the ones I've swatched in store are okay  however I find that every single shade I've tried from Makeup geek has just a little nicer and a little more pigmented.

 

Round 4 - Blendability

 

The Winner - Makeup geek

One of the main things that I don't like about Mac shadows is how hard they are to blend. Don't get me wrong I have only tried four shades however they are shades that everyone always says how amazing they are an I just find them not very easy to work with.

 

Other notes -

 

One other thing that I will say about Mac shadows is that they seem to develop that weird film that eyeshadows develop sometimes so easily and I seem to have to scrape off the top layer of shadow almost every time I go to use them. I thought at first it might just be me however talking to some of the girls at college their shadows do the same thing.

 

So overall the crown definitely goes to Makeup geek I think unless their is a particular shade that you really want from Mac I'd definitely suggest you try the makeup geek shadows instead.



Beauty ¦ Clinique Lip pop - Poppy pop

 

Oh my good lord I love these lipsticks, like seriously I really love them. I feel like these haven't had half as much hype as they actually deserve. So starting off with packaging I love how obvious it is what shade you are getting out, it also feels super sturdy and the lid feels incredibly secure which is one of the things I look for in lipstick packaging. I have the driest lips in the world and recently they have been super flaky and gross (painting a really attractive picture here) because of the flakiness I've been really struggling with wearing lipsticks without my lips feeling like they are going to just completely fall off. The think I love about these lipsticks is how comfortable and hydrating they are.

These somehow whilst being super hydrating and pretty glossy they really last well. I do find however that if you put to many layers on it does have a tendency to bleed a little. Other than that though I find that this particular shade's gloss lasts around 4 hours and then I get around another 4 hours out of the colour.

So that's it for today's post, if you guys have any Clinique lip pop shade recommendations I'd love for you to leave them in the comments. 

Beauty ¦ Makeup Revolution haul

This is the second haul I've put up since Saturday #oopsie but I couldn't resist showing you what I picked up from Makeup revolution. I actually did also film this as a haul on my channel so if you prefer videos I will leave it at the bottom for you to watch. However I thought I would still share this haul on here as I know that a lot of you don't watch my youtube. I ordered on Easter weekend when they had their sale and a free gift offer on so I managed to get all this stuff for just a little over £30 which I don't think is to bad. So without further ado lets get on with what I picked up.

 

As you all know I'm a little obsessed with my brow products at the moment so I decided to give the Ultra aqua brow tint in medium which is actually a little bit warm for me however I've been really impressed with the formula I just wished they offered more shades. I also picked up the Precious metals shadow in rose gold as I had heard so many things about how similar these are to the Stila foiled shadows so when I saw it on sale for £2 I knew I had to give it a try.

The Vivid blush lacquer in O'boy was a little bit of a random purchase it's actually a lot brighter than I thought it was so I'm probably not going to get much wear out of it before the summer.

 

I had every intention of picking up the Radiant lights palette however it was actually out of stock so when I saw that the Radiant light powder in glow was on sale I decided to give it a try. Typically the shade I picked up I received for free in the goody bag which was a little annoying. I picked up some lip products, the I heart makeup lip lava's are something I've tried before so I decided to pick up the shade unleash which is the most beautiful coral shade. I also picked up the I heart makeup wow stick in Atomic which is a much truer orange than unleash. Finally for lip products I picked up the Ultra velour lip cream in their eyes can't find us.  

 

I have been wanting the pick up the Iconic pro 1 for ages as I've heard it is a dupe for the Lorac pro palette and I am really loving it. The shadows are incredible quality and the colours in the palette compliment each other really well. I also picked up the Euphoria eyeshadow and contouring palette in bronzed which was an absolute steal at only £3. Finally for palettes I picked up the Golden sugar 2 blush palette which has two really beautiful highlighters, two bronzers, 3 marbled baked blushes and then the strangest pressed gold pigment which I can see would make a really beautiful eyeshadows but the likelihood of me ever wearing it on my face.

 

Finally moving on to the products that came in the Mystery free gift, the first thing was The one foundation in shade 6 which is far to dark for me however I feel like it will be really useful to mix with my other foundations to darken them for when I have a little bit more of a tan. I also got two more of the Ultra velour lip creams the red one is in the shade You're not the best and you're not the last and the bright pink is in the shade Sweet boy with a big mouth. Also in the gift was The one blush stick in Malibu which is a shimmery bronze shade, the Awesome metals shadow in black diamond, another of the Radiant lights powders in glow and finally the Eyeshadow in acid! (which is possibly the grossest shadow ever)

 

I really hope you enjoyed this post and if you'd like to watch the video it is below! 

Beauty ¦ The High end starter kit.

I feel like there are so may drugstore starter kit posts floating about in the blogosphere at the moment. Now don't get me wrong I love those types of posts but today I thought I'd do something a little different and show you my high end starter kit. These are the products that I would recommend if you were looking to start or increase your high end collection.

 

Base

 

Foundation - Nars Sheer glow - If you are a regular reader you will know that I absolutely adore this foundation. I find that on my dry skin it's just hydrating enough that it doesn't emphasise any dry patches yet it still has a really stunning full coverage and a lovely slightly glowy finish. In all honesty I have absolutely no idea why they decided to call it sheer glow but despite the fact that the name is rubbish the product itself is really lovely. However I will say the one gripe I have with it is that it doesn't come with a pump which is a little annoying. I definitely have to give the Bare minerals Complexion rescue a little honourable mention here, if you are into lighter hydrating bases this one is definitely for you. If you want to read a little more about my review is //here//
 

 Concealer - Clarins Instant light concealer - This is possibly the best concealer I have ever tried which is a big claim as I've tried a lot recently. This is so beautiful and lightweight for under the eyes yet it has plenty of coverage and also works really well on any blemishes. The only thing with this is the shade selection is a little limited so if you can't find a shade that works for you my honourable mention has to go to the Urban decay Naked concealer which is a really lovely texture and has a nice amount of coverage.

 
Setting spray - Urban decay All nighter makeup setting spray - I'm going to be honest I thought this stuff was a massive gimmick but curiosity killed the cat and all that. Turns out on this occasion curiosity led to the cat's makeup being completely flawless all day. I have no idea what is in here but it really does make makeup stick to your face and not go anywhere.

Bronzer - Benefit Hoola - Guess who forgot to put my bronzer in the photo (I also forgot to put in the highlighter aswell #fail) I absolutely love Hoola it is the most perfect super natural bronzer which just adds a little bit of shape and shadow to the face without looking muddy. I personally find that I can't really get away with it for a full blown contour as it ends up looking a little muddy on me however I can imagine someone with a skin tone that is a little darker would really get on with it as a contour. In terms of honourable mentions it has to go to the Nars Laguna bronzer and the Smashbox contour kit.

Highlighter - Benefit High beam - Now if you are one for super intense highlights High beam might not be for you but I personally love it on days I don't want to go really intense with my highlight. It is a stunning pinky shimmer which adds the most beautiful natural glow to the face. It is also really lovely mixed into foundation to add a little more glow. If you are looking for a more intense highlight Nars albatross is absolutely stunning however isn't on for people who don't like glitter.

Blushes - Illamasqua blushes - Okay so I couldn't actually narrow down this as I love all three of their blush formulas. Their powder blushes are so stunning, they have incredible pigmentation and come in some absolutely crazy colours however they still blend beautifully and can be sheered out to whatever pigment you want. The cream blushes are quite wet blushes however once on the skin they just look so glowy and natural and finally the velvet blushes which are somewhere between a cream and a mousse and leave a matte finish on the cheeks. My honourable mention here has to go to the Clinique Cheek pops which are just the most beautiful blushes I have ever laid my eyes end.

Brows and Eyes

Brow colour - Smashbox Brow tech matte pencil - One of the reasons I love this pencil so much is how thin the nib is. I find it is so easy to get a really precise brow when using it. I also really love the formula it isn't to waxy so it's hard to work with but it has enough grip to not move around all over the place. I had to mention Anastasia dip brow as my honourable mention however if you are new to makeup I'd definitely say go for a pencil first!

Brow Gel - Benefit Gimme brow - I really wasn't sure if this one would live up to the hype however I am so impressed with it. I have the most untameable brows ever and this stuff manages to keep them glued in place for pretty much all of the day. I really wish they would expand their shade range though as it is currently only available in two shades.

Eye Primer - Urban decay Eyeshadow primer potion - I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this on my blog about a million times however it is one of those holy grail products that I just couldn't be without. I have the oiliest eyelids in the world despite the fact that my skin is drier than the Sahara and this keeps shadows on all day with very very minimal creasing. Honourable mention in this case has to go to my Mac Bare study Paint pot which isn't quite as long lasting however if your eyelids aren't so oily it would probably be absolutely perfect.

Eyeshadow - Urban decay - I mean what else was I going to pick really. I'm personally not a fan of Mac shadows so Urban decay are my go to when it comes to high end eyeshadow. There eyeshadows are all so beautifully formulated and I can honestly say I have never found a dud shade. My two favourite palettes from them are the original naked basics and the Gwen Stefani palette. For my honourable mention here it has to go to the Stila in the light palette.

Mascara - Benefit They're real - I'm going to be honest this is one of the very few high end mascaras I've tried however it's so good I don't want to try anymore. I have a massive problem with mascara smudging under my eyes and this one is the only one I've every used that doesn't do it.

Lips

Gloss - Clarins Instant light natural lip perfector - I am really not a lip gloss person however I really love these. My favourite shade is definitely number one which is a mid-toned pink shade. I love how glossy these are without being super sticky.

Lipstick - Clinique Lip pop - These have the loveliest hydrating formula and are perfect for someone who has really dry lips. I've found that despite the fact they are hydrating they don't slip about on the lips however if you do layer them to much they can bleed a little bit. I really love the colour selection and I will definitely be picking up some more shades in the next couple of months. I have so many more lipsticks that I really love but my honourable mention had to go to the Charlotte tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipsticks.

Lip liner - Charlotte Tilbury lip cheat in Pillow talk - I think this is definitely in the running for worlds most talked about lip liner along with the likes of Mac whirl and soar. I just really love the formula of this liner and the fact that it basically goes with any lipsticks as it is almost the same colour as my natural lip colour. It also has a really lovely texture and isn't drying at all as I find a lot of lip liners can really suck all the moisture out of your lips.

So that's it for todays mammoth post I really hope you guys enjoyed this and I'd love to hear what your favourite high end products are!
 



Beauty ¦ A Beauty bay haul

 So I really need to stop this whole online shopping thing however when I saw that Beauty Bay were offering a free makeup geek foiled eyeshadow when you made an order over £50 it seemed to good an offer to miss. Since I was getting one of their shadows anyway I decided it would be the perfect time to fill up my palette. If you would like to see a full makeup geek palette post let me know as I've done posts showing my separate hauls so if it's something you'd like to see all together let me know.

 

 

So in terms of shadows on the top row we have In the spotlight which is a beautiful peachy glittery foiled shade, Bada bing which is a dark brown with silver shimmer, Burlesque which is a shimmery purple toned burgundy shade and Cupcake which is a medium pink matte shade. On the bottom row we have Bleached blonde which is a kind of green-y gold shade, Bitten which is a very dark red burgundy matte shade and finally I picked up Mango tango which is the most beautiful mid tone pinky corally colour which I feel like I will reach for a lot in the spring summer months.

Left to Right - In the spotlight, Bada bing, Burlesque, Cupcake, Bleached blonde, Bitten, Mango tango

 I also decided to pick up two liquid lipsticks, both these brands are ones I've heard a lot about however never tried. I picked up the Dose of Colours Kiss of fire which is the most incredible pinky red colour which I feel like I'm going to get a lot of wear out of. The other Liquid lipstick I picked up was Gerard cosmetics hydra matte lipstick in ecstasy which is a stunning purple grey nude shade which is definitely not for the faint hearted. I definitely want more shades of both of these products as I've been really impressed with the formulas!

Top - Kiss of Fire Bottom - Ecstasy



Life ¦ Getting my revision on

 

 

So it's less than two months till the first A level exams and I have spent the majority of my time lately with my head stuck in a text book. I know that a lot of you lovely people have also got exams so today I thought I would have a little chat about revision. I am in no way an expert here but I though I would talk about some of the things that I find really work for me.

 

Mind maps.

 

Mind maps are something that I find really work for me however I do understand how some people don't find that they work for them. I like to use them as I find they are the best way to organise things and keep topics together. Especially for my Biology revision I find they are super clear and easy to look over and scan.

 

Revision cards.

 

I like to have cards stuck around my room of key points that I feel like I really need to remember. I think this is really useful as I find myself subconsciously reading them. For example I have some things stuck on my mirror which I read while getting ready. When I did my GCSE'S I had little cards stuck all over the house and I found it to be so useful.

 

Colours.

 

Something I find really helps is adding lots of colour my work. I use colours to pick out key words and I find that when I'm reading my work it really helps when it comes to remembering key parts. (It also looks really pretty)

 

Don't panic.

 

 

Now this one is easier said than done and I should definitely practice what I preach however I found that last year I got so wound up it meant that I was avoiding revision in turn meaning that I put even more pressure and stress on myself.

 

So that's it for today's post if you have any revision tips of your own I'd love for you to leave them in the comments. 

Beauty ¦ Zoeva Cocoa blend palette.

Are you guys sick of me talking about warm toned eyeshadows yet? I feel like they are all I ever seen to talk about these days but I just really bloody love them! Today I thought I'd do a little review and rundown of the Zoeva Cocoa blend palette which is something I've been reaching for a lot in the past couple of weeks so without further ado lets get straight into it.

 

So lets start of with packaging, this palette is cardboard which I do kind of hate as I feel like it isn't strong enough to protect the product properly. That being said it does have a pretty strong magnetic closing making it a little sturdier. I really like the design of the packaging and how thin the palette would make it ideal for traveling. Moving onto the formula I am really impressed I wasn't sure what to expect as although I had heard good things I hadn't heard that much. All ten shades are incredibly pigmented and buttery and blend really well.

 



 

Bitter start - Completely matte bright cream highlight shade. This one is pretty standard it works really well in the inner corner to really brighten up a look without adding any shimmer.

 

Sweeter end - Light pinky gold shade with a metallic finish. This makes a beautiful all over the lid shade with basically any of the other shades in this palette in the crease. I imagine this would make a beautiful highlight on darker skins.

 

Warm notes - This one is such an incredible shade, it is a beautiful dark pink with a metallic finish. I absolutely love this one however I haven't been quite brave enough to wear it yet as I don't really know what to do with it.

 

Subtle blend - This is a warm brown shade with lots of gold glitter. This one is really perfect for smoking out and darkening up a look without adding any of the really dark almost black brown. I find this one pairs beautifully with the gold shade in the palette.

 

Beans are white - At first I thought this one was a black however it is actually a very deep brown shade which is almost black. This one is completely matte.

 

Pure ganache - This one is possibly my favourite shade in the palette. It is a stunning coppery gold shade with the most incredible metallic finish. This one looks so stunning paired with Subtle blend but also with Freshly toasted for a super warm look.

 

Substitute for love - This one is a very warm medium brown shade which is super versatile. It works well as a lid shade or transition shade for a darker look however it does also work well in the crease for a little bit of subtle definition.

 

Freshly toasted - This shade reminds me a lot of Makeup geek Cocoa bear, it's a little lighter and just a hint more red toned however offers that similar look. This one again is completely matte, I also feel like this would look incredible all over the lid with black in the crease to create a warm smokey eye.

 

Infusion - This one is a grey toned brown shade absolutely packed with different coloured shimmer. This is such an individual shade and is absolutely perfect for a smokey eye.

 

Delicate acidity - This shade is definitely my least favourite in the palette. Don't get me wrong it is an incredibly stunning metallic pinky purple shade however I just don't feel like it fits in the palette. Don't get me wrong I will get some use out of it however on an everyday basis I have definitely been overlooking it.

 

So that's it guys I really hope you enjoyed this review and if you have any other Zoeva palette recommendations leave them in the comments. 

Beauty ¦ Spring makeup shakeup.

 

When it comes to makeup I'm a fan of dark lipsticks as much as the next gal however for me it is all about the bright makeup shades. Today I thought I would show you some of the products I've been using recently to add a little colour into my routine so without further ado lets get on with it.

 

Starting off with lipsticks (Which is a little backwards but I'm going to role with it anyway) I've been really loving super bright shades.

 

Clinique Lip pop - Poppy pop

 

I think if someone asked me what my current most favourite lipstick was I'd have to say this one. It's the most stunning orangey red shade with a glossy finish yet despite the finish it doesn't move about on the lips and it has some serious staying power. Once the gloss has faded away you are left with a stunning orangey shade on the lips and I just absolutely love it.

 

 

NYX Soft matte lip cream - Antwerp

 

I'm not 100% on the formula of these however I just absolutely love the colour so I had to include it in this post. In terms of formula I find this one looks really pretty when you first apply it however unless your lips are completely soft and even it tends to clump up and attach itself to dry patches as well as falling into any lines. However the shade is just stunning, it's a gorgeous mid tone bright orangey pink that doesn't have to much blue in it. I do find that I can combat my problem with the formula as long as I keep an eye on it and keep it topped up.

 

Rimmel Kate moss - 110

 

I wore this lipstick for pretty much the entire summer last year. I love the formula of these despite the fact they are matte they don't cling to any dry patches and they are still moveable when they are on the lips. The shade of this one is similar to the shade of Poppy pop however it does have more orange to it. I think if you want to give an orange a go I'd definitely recommend this one.

 

Bourjois Rouge edition velvet - Pink pong

 

I really love the formula of these and if you are looking for a super bright colour pink pong is the perfect choice. It's a very blue toned bright pink and definitely not one for the faint hearted. If I had to say one bad thing about these they really smell chemically however the formula is so incredible I can deal with the scent.

 

Illamasqua - Corrupt

 

I ordered this from the Illamasqua sale expecting it to be a nude however when it arrived it turned out it was a mid tone bright pink which I really wasn't sure about it however I tried it on and totally loved it. The one thing about this lipstick is that it is so matte and incredibly drying. I find without wearing a lip balm underneath it is ridiculously difficult to apply a opaque non patchy layer. However I find it's actually really comfortable to wear with a balm underneath.



Top to bottom - Clinique Poppy pop, NYX Antwerp, Rimmel 110, Bourjois Pink pong, Illamasqua Corrupt.

 Eyeshadow wise I've actually been stepping out of my comfort zone and adding little pops of colour into my eyeshadow.

 

NYX Hot singles eyeshadow - LOL

 

I picked this up after watching a Manny Mua video where he used a bright orange in his crease which a peachy shade on the lid and a burgundy shade in the outer V and I absolutely loved it. This is quite a dark peachy shade more than a bright orange and I've been loving using it in my crease. I actually like it so much I ordered another orange-y shade from Makeup geek.

 

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette - Pop and Danger

 

I love this palette (as does every other beauty blogger I feel) Pop is the most beautiful peachy glittery shade which looks really pretty paired with NYX LOL and Makeup geek Cherry cola. Danger is something I would have never ever bought as I have blue eyes I was always really scared of blue eyeshadow however I've been really enjoying wearing it under my eyes to add a very tiny pop of colour.  

Left to Right - NYX LOL, Urban Decay Pop, Urban Decay Danger.

 Finally I have blush, I wear a lot more blush in the summer because I prefer wearing it with tanned skin than when I'm super pale.

 

Essence Blush up - Pinky flow

 

This is a really pretty light bright pink with some shimmer in it. It works so beautifully on skin that has a little bit more colour as I find it's a little too blue toned for me when my skin is pale. Formula wise considering it's around £3 I really love it. It is a little bit dusty however the pigmentation is really good and it blends very easily.

 

Illamasqua Blush duo - Lover and Hussy

 

I had heard so many good things about this duo that when I saw it in the sale I couldn't resist. Lover is a very pretty bright peach-y orange shade which I actually really love when I'm pale too, however I feel like it's going to look really beautiful with a tan. Out of the two shades I think Hussy is definitely my favourite it's a bright pink shade which in the swatch looks quite coral-y however on the cheeks it's more like a very true bright pink.

Left to Right - Essence Pinky flow, Illamasqua Lover and Hussy.

So that's it for today's post I really hope you enjoyed this post and I'd love to know what products you have been adding into your routine for the spring. 

Life ¦ Attempting to get myself organised

 So I am one of those people who really likes to pretend they are organised but in fact in my head I am actually panicking over how unorganised I really am. So today I thought I would talk you through some of the things I've been doing to try and get myself a little more organised.

 

So starting off I purchased a desk planner which I am so in love with and I have found that it's really helped me get a little more organised. As it is on my desk I've been looking at it and writing on it all the time meaning it's urging me on to be more organised. This was only £6 from paper chase which really impressed me. I've also been writing down all of my blog posts on it meaning it's also helped keep track of all that.

 

I also purchased myself a new Filofax planner. In the end I ordered a Filofax clipbook which is an A5 size and the reason I picked it up was I was finding my Filofax mini was super heavy and carrying it around all day was a bit of a pain. So I'm now using my Clipbook as my day to day planner and I've been using my mini Filofax as a blog planner. So I've racking all my stats as well as noting down all other things blog related.

 

I've also been writing a lot of lists and by a lot I mean at least one a day for my everyday bits and bobs that I need to do as well as extra blog related ones and everything in between. I feel like not only are lists a great way to relax a little bit.

 

So there are a couple of ways I'm attempting to get myself organised. If you guys have any tips I'd love for you to leave them in the comments!

 

Beauty ¦ YSL Rouge volupte shine - Beige blouse

 

Ever since starting blogging I've been dreaming of owning one of these stunning lipsticks however I could never quite commit myself to shelling out the £26.00 for one however on my recent visit to the airport I decided to bite the bullet and get one and I am so very glad I did (Unfortunately my bank balance doesn't feel the same as I now want all the shades) I mean I expected to be impressed but this has gone above and beyond what I expected for it.

 

I decided to settle for quite a neutral shade as that's what I have found I've been reaching for a lot lately. In the end I went for Beige blouse (47) which is a beautifully brown-y pink nude which is just the ultimate my lips but better shade (I really hate that phrase but it fits) The finish is glossy and I find it leaves my lips looking a little plumper especially when I pair it with a liner like Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk.

 

 

My lips have been an absolute nightmare recently as they have been so dry and I find that this is one of those lip products that you can wear no matter what state your lips in as the formula is so hydrating. If this lipstick has one downfall it has to be the lasting power however with a formula as hydrating as this one it would be hard for it to last for hours and hours pair that with the fact that the shade is quite light therefore it doesn't leave a stain. I find I can get two - four hours out of it depending on how much I've been talking however it definitely does need topping up after any kind of food or drink.

 

Overall I really love this lipstick and I would say that it is well worth a purchase if you can bear to shell put the cash for it.



Life ¦ A little chat about TSS

 

I feel like TSS (Toxic shock Syndrome) is something that so many women are aware off yet not something that they know much about, when Veeda got in touch with me asking if I would like to try some of their products I thought it would give the perfect opportunity to talk about TSS on my blog and learn a little more about it myself.

 

TSS is actually caused by a bacterial infection which can then lead to kidney failure, lung collapse and sometimes even Cardiac arrests. Currently over 50% of cases of TSS are linked to High absorbency tampon use. A chemical called viscose rayon which is often found in conventional tampons promotes the growth of the toxin that is linked to TSS. Even though people think it is a thing of the past 1 in 100 women in the developed world will at some point contract tampon related TSS. By using cotton tampons like Veeda which are 100% cotton which therefore contain no nasty chemicals means that you reduce your likelihood of contracting TSS infact their has never been a case of tampon related TSS when using 100& cotton tampons.

 

Veeda's products are also all incredibly environmentally friendly, their towels are wrapped in packaging that degrades in 6-12 months and even the Tampons themselves are 100% biodegradable even in landfill.

 

I hope you guys found this post interesting and I hope you learned something about TSS.

Beauty ¦ The warm shadow edit

I feel like the likelihood of me shutting up about warm shadows is slim to none. I am still as obsessed as I was and I still keep buying more warm toned shades. Today I thought I would show you some of my current favourite shades that I have found myself reaching for regularly in the past couple of weeks.

 

H&M Global fusion eye pot in Aubergine sheen. £4.99

 

Can I first say this is in no way anywhere near an aubergine shade. It's a beautiful dark orange brown shade, which looks so beautiful all over the lid and built up under the eyes as it tends to settle a little darker in the crease meaning it is the perfect one pot smokey eye. The formula of this is insane and it really sticks around once it's on the lids.

 

Makeup Geek shadows in Cosmopolitan, Latte, Cocoa bear and Goddess. £4.95 each

 

Oh look Cole is talking about Makeup geek shadows again surprise surprise. These are four of my favourite shades. Cosmopolitan is a stunning pinky copper shade which makes the most beautiful lid colour for a coppery smokey eye. Latte is a very basic matte warm toned medium brown which works nicely as a crease shade for lighter looks and as a transition shade for darker looks. Cocoa bear is a very warm toned dark matte brown which is a really beautiful crease shade and I've been loving wearing it in the crease of gold shades to really warm the look up. Finally we have Goddess which is a beautiful metallic heavily red toned brown with gold reflex in it. You all probably know that I love these shadows however if you do want to see a little more in depth my posts are //here// and //here//

 

Zoeva Substitute for love and Freshly toasted from the Cocoa blend palette £15.95

 

I love the entire Zoeva Cocoa blend palette however I am a little obsessed with these two shades. Substitute for love is a warm caramel medium brown shade which is completely matte, this is the perfect lid shade paired with Freshly toasted which is a warm chocolatey shade. These two paired together make a lovely matte warm eye which looks insane with a flick of eyeliner. In terms of quality these shadows are lovely and buttery and blend really well.

Left to Right - H&M aubergine sheen, Zoeva substitute for love, Zoeva freshly toasted, MUG Cosmopolitan, MUG Latte, MUG Cocoa bear, MUG Goddess.

Beauty ¦ Bare minerals Complexion rescue

You know when you make a complete impulse purchase because you see one of your favourite youtubers use a product even though it's not a product you would ever pick up yourself? This was one of those products, and it turns out I really love it. I've always gone for very heavy high coverage as I have a lot of acne scaring and redness in my skin however I was sick of wearing a full coverage foundation all the time and after seeing a couple of people use this I decided to bite the bullet and give it a go.

 

The texture of this product is really strange it lies somewhere between a mouse and a gel which means it just sinks into the skin leaving a really lovely even layer of coverage on the skin. This is definitely a light coverage however it does a really good job of covering all my redness and I only need a little extra concealer under my eyes and on my scaring. In terms of application it suggests on the packaging that hands should be used to apply however after trying it out that way I found that most of it sunk into my fingers instead of into my face. I also gave a brush a go and found it needed a little more work than my usual foundations as I found the brush left marks. I finally decided to try it with my beauty blender and I absolutely loved how it left it looking and how quick it was to apply. I thought that as it is quite low coverage I would end up using loads of product each time however I've found that I have to use about half of what I would usually use for my whole face.

 

Finish wise this stuff is incredibly dewy, for my super dry skin it's perfect however I think even the slightest of oily skins may find this looks really greasy really quickly on them. I also really love the packaging for this the squeezy tube is perfect for getting just enough product out and I've found it just makes my whole foundation application a much cleaner process.

 

I think if you are someone with dry skin this will be perfect for you as it feels so lovely on the skin however I would definitely suggest passing if you have oily skin. I think after trying this I may just have to try some more lighter coverage options, I've definitely got my eye on the Nars tinted moisturizer next.