July makeup

 

So it's that time of the month, not that time, but the time when I talk about all of the products I have been reaching for regularly this month. For my foundation I have again been reaching for my Clarins True radiance foundation again. If you are a regular reader you will know I absolutely love this stuff it is amazing for my dry skin and is honestly possibly the dewiest foundation I have ever used and I love it so much. Concealer has been my Mac Prolongwear as I've had a lot of redness around my nose and have needed the extra coverage.

I have been reaching for my Clinique chubby stick in the shade curvy contour which initially I wasn't a big fan of however I have fallen in love with it as I have gotten better at applying it and now I am absolutely obsessed. I've been using Nars Laguna to just add a little more colour on my face which as you probably know it is my favourite bronzer. For Blush again I have been reaching for my Urban Decay Afterglow blush in Indecent which is just the most beautiful peachy shade. Finally for my cheeks I've been using the Jeffree Star highlight in Crystal ball. I'm really not sure how I feel about this yet. I find it's a little chunky however it is really gorgeous and intense.

For eyes as usual I have been putting down a base of Urban decay primer potion, then I have also been using the Maybelline colour tattoo in Breathless as it has been a bit hot and I do like to double prime when it's hot out. Then for shadow I have been using the Zoeva Caramel melange palette which is the most beautiful orange toned palette. I love the mix of shimmers and mattes and would recommend everyone gives it a go. For the lashes I've been using Mac Instacurl which is a really beautiful lengthening and curling mascara. For brows I have been using my Anastasia dip brow as per usual.

To finish off I've been adding a couple of spritz's of the All nighter setting spray from Urban decay. For the final touches to the look I have been reaching for the Charlotte Tilbury Lip liner in Pillow talk and topping that with a little bit of Mac Viva glam 5 which is a stunning slightly shimmery nude shade. 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude foundation

Having dry skin I was always a little scared of the Estee Lauder original Double wear so when they dropped the water based Double wear with a thinner texture and a little less coverage I was definitely interested in giving it a go. Now I do have to say in terms of lasting power I was expecting a little more from this foundation. It looks beautiful on the skin upon initial application however I find it very quickly falls into the dry patches on my nose. In terms of coverage I would say it is definitely buildable and after two layers you can build up a good medium to full coverage. The finish is slightly dewy however I think even someone with an oily skin type would be able to manage with the level of dewiness on the face.

 

Packaging wise I love the bottle but I seriously despise that fact it hasn't got a pump I just don't understand why brands do it but there was no way I was paying a further £5 for a pump. I like the fact that it has the high SPF 30 and feel like it makes it an even more summery product. Overall I don't hate this however it's not one I'm going to be reaching for everyday. I think if you have normal or oily skin though and want something lighter than the original then this would be perfect for you.

 



Jeffree star Summer collection review and swatches.

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was when I got the text to say this parcel had arrived. I know Jeffree star is most definitely a marmite kind of person there is no denying that he creates some insane liquid lipsticks. After his reveal video for the new collection I knew I wanted the vault as I love 7 out of 8 of the shades and I know I will wear the 7 incredibly often. You will probably already know which one I don't love and that is Venus fly trap however I will definitely be trying using it as a liner as it is a super funky colour. So without further ado I'm actually going to review these separately as the formula does definitely differ over the collection.

 

 First off we have the shade Butt Naked this is a beautiful peachy nude shade which reminds me a little of nude beach from last years summer collection just less pastel. For me I find this one to be a slight bit thicker than some of his other VLL however I still like the formula and don't find t drying at all.

Next up we have Calabasas which is one of my favourites from the collection. I will say that for me this definitely is a more autumnal shade however I have still worn it multiple times already. It is a stunning medium berry shade and has a very thin formula which lasts an insane amount of time without feeling dry.

Next up is Venus Flytrap which is definitely the out there colour of the collection. I found this one didn't apply the best and looked a little streaky on the lips. Not only was the formula not favourite this shade makes me look like I've died and that's just not the look I want.

The fourth shade is Family Jewels which is a stunning deep berry toned brown. Again like Calabasas I wouldn't have put this shade in a summer collection as for me it is definitely a more autumn inspired colour. The formula of this however is so beautiful again it has the incredibly thin pretty much instant drying effect which Jeffree's lipstick are praised for.
 



Butt Naked, Calabasas, Venus Flytrap, Family jewels, Hunty, You Better work, Flamboyant, Candy ass.

Hunty is the other nude shade in the collection, it is much less peach and more orange than Butt Naked meaning it is a little darker. Out of the whole collection I would say that this one is my current favourite shade. This again has a slightly thicker formula but that means it looks flawless with just one dip into the tube for product.

 

I feel like You Better Work is definitely the most hyped shade out of this collection. It is the most stunning bright pink toned purple shade which pretty much looks neon on the lips. The only issue I have with this one is that the formula is a little on the dry side. As long as the lips are well prepped there is no issues however for me on my dry lips re-application is a no go. I need to completely remove and then reapply.

 

Finally moving onto the metallic shades in the collection we have Flamboyant which is a gorgeous pinky coral which a slight metallic sheen, once on the lips it reflects a stunning gold sheen and I just think it is the most perfect summer lip colour. This formula is more on the mousse side meaning it is incredibly comfortable to wear. The shimmer is also nice and fine meaning it doesn't feel gritty on the lips which is the one thing I dislike about metallic lip shades.

 

The final shade is Candy Ass  which is a gorgeous rose gold metallic. This definitely has much larger shimmer particles in it that Flamboyant however these are still fine enough not to be irritating. I am so in love with this shade however it definitely needs a lip liner underneath as most metallic shades do. Again  the formula is very similar to the other metallic however this one doesn't really set at all and remains moveable on the lips.

 

So that's it for today, I'd love to know what your favourite shade from the collection is?

Products bloggers made me buy #1

 

So being a blogger I am very often swayed to buy things I probably don't need. Most bloggers can probably understand the feeling so today I thought I would share some of the products I've tried because of the hype surrounding them.

 

First off a couple of super hyped bits from Anastasia. The modern renaissance palette is honestly probably my favourite palette ever. The shadows blend like an absolute dream and are so incredibly pigmented. I love all the shades as they are just so me and work for all the seasons. The other product from them is the Dip brow which is just the best brow product ever. This shade is absolutely perfect for me. I just think everyone needs this.

 

 

Next up we have Nars Laguna which is my favourite bronzer of all time. It is just the perfect balance of Orange and grey meaning it doesn't either look too grey or too orange. I love the fact that this has the slight golden shimmer in it as it just gives the skin the most beautiful healthy glow. Also for the cheeks I wanted to mention the Laura Geller Gelato swirl highlighters. Everyone absolutely loves the shade gilded honey but I also bought charming pink which is a really pretty pinky shade. I can't actually use gilded honey when I am pale however in the summer I absolutely love it.

 

Finally for today I wanted to mention the Bobbi brown gel liners which are 100% my favourite liners. I have really watery eyes so a lot of liners end up all the way down my face however once I have put this in my waterline or on my lash line it is stuck and doesn't move at all until I take it off. I feel like these were more hyped a couple of years ago however they still seem to be that cult product that so many still use.

 

So that's it, I'd love to know what products you've picked up because of the hype.

My favourite Makeup geek palette

 

You will know if you are a regular reader that I am obsessed with the Makeup geek shadows and today I thought I would show my sort of orange, red, gold and pink palette as this is the one that I reach for most often. So without further ado lets get on with it.

 

Beaches and Cream - An almost cream peach with a matte finish.

 

Peach smoothie - A brighter peach, perfect for a transition shade on paler skins with a matte finish.

 

Chickadee - Warm toned yellow brown shade with a matte finish.

 

In the spotlight - One of the foiled shadows, a stunning pinky peach metallic which looks incredible.

 

Mango Tango - Raspberry pink shade with a slight gold shimmer.

 

Poppy - Orange toned red shade with a matte finish.

 

Morocco - A deep orange with brown tones.

 

 

Cosmopolitan - A metallic deep pink shade with gold reflects.

 

Goddess - A copper shade with a metallic finish.

 

Steampunk - A duochrome brown to red.

 

Sorbet - A basic matte baby pink shade which is perfect for highlighting the brow bone.

 

Cinderella - A really pretty shimmery slightly brown toned pink.

 

Mai Tai - A duo chrome baby pink to light peach with gold reflects.

 

Cupcake - The perfect transition shade for a pink smokey eye. A beautiful slightly mauvey matte pink.

 

 

Tuscan sun - A warmer transition for a pink eye look. A beautiful slightly orange pink.

 

Simply Marlena - An insane bright pink shade which looks incredible on the lid.

 

Roulette - A very gold based copper which makes a stunning lid colour with a burgundy in the crease.

 

Anarchy - Beautiful metallic pinky red shade with gold shimmer.

 

Bitten - A matte very pink burgundy shade.

 

Burlesque - Slightly metallic deep burgundy.

 

Cherry Cola - A brown based burgundy which makes the perfect crease shade.

 



Desert sands - The darker slightly more Khaki version of chickadee.

 

Casino - A very warm yellow toned gold.

 

Bleached blonde - A cool toned gold shade with fairly large shimmer particles.

 

Pocket change - A golden copper shade which makes a stunning lid colour.

 

Glamourous - A very warm toned gold shade.

 

Corrupt - The best matte black shadow I have ever tried.

 

So that's it for today, I'd love to know what your favourite makeup geek shades are.

 



 

Four favourite foundations

 

So as you will probably know if you are a regular reader I am on the quest to find the best foundation for dry skin. Today I thought I would show you four of my current favourites.

 

Clarins True Radiance foundation - This is possibly the Dewiest foundation I have ever tried and I completely love it. This is definitely one to avoid if you have an oily skin type but for all my dry skinned gals out there this is perfect. It is incredibly comfortable and even though it is so dewy it sets down on the face and doesn't feel as though it is moving around as a lot of heavily dewy bases do. I find that throughout the day this doesn't fall into the dryness on my nose especially and offers a good medium coverage. This is one I think anyone with super dry skin will love.

 

Charlotte Tilbury Magic foundation - This one is definitely more of a satin finish so I feel it would probably work better for more skin types. This has a medium to full coverage and again sits very comfortably on the skin. Despite it definitely being a satin matte it doesn't cling to any patches on my skin and is the one I have been reaching for when I have been going out.

 

Clinique Beyond perfecting - This is the only super full coverage foundation I have ever really got along with. Although it has the coverage it isn't super thick meaning that it doesn't cling to any drier patches. This is again more of a Satin finish and the lasting power is incredible. I actually picked it up on the way to Iceland and it stood up so well against the cold and the wet as well as dealing with the fact my skin was even drier than normal.

 

N07 Lift and Luminate foundation - I actually picked this one up as Kathleen lights recommended it and every foundation she likes I normally like too. This is a bit thicker than I would normally go for when I pumped it out for the first time I was a little concerned however I have to say I love it. It definitely doesn't look thick on the skin and blends beautifully offering a beautiful dewy finish and a medium coverage. The thing I love the most about this however is the fact that it lasts so long on the skin and honestly still looks flawless at the end of the day.

 

What are your favourite foundations at the moment? 

Benefit Dandelion twinkle - The perfect subtle highlighter.

 

So I do love a good intense highlight however for me it's not something I wear everyday. I loved the sound of this product as it had the word twinkle in it I figured it would be beautifully glowy and I was right. It is a stunning subtle pinky shade which just adds a little bit of a glow to the skin. It is perfect on my pale skin as it doesn't show up any colour which is one of my pet peves when it comes to highlighting my super pale skin. It does have various sized particles of shimmer however it isn't a case of larger bits showing up obviously on the skin. As always with the Benefit boxed powders it is in the thick cardboard packaging which isn't ideal but as long as you don't spill water on it isn't too bad. I also really love the design I just thing the metallic pink and the dandelion just looks super cute.

 

I think if you are looking for a subtle pink highlight for more everyday wear this would be perfect and I would definitely recommend giving it a go. I'd love to know what your favourite everyday highlights are!  







A few Boots beauty purchases

So last week I placed a cheeky little Boots order after the new Estee Lauder Double wear nude was mentioned on beauty news. After going on the website I also found an incredible Smashbox deal so I knew I had to make a purchase which led me to this haul.

 

So first off we have the Double Wear nude, I have always fancied giving double wear a go as so many youtubers and bloggers say it is their holy grail however I just know I would never be able to wear it as my skin is dry and it would just go cakey. However when this was released I knew I had to give it a go. It is a water based foundation meaning it is very runny but it still offers a good amount of coverage. The shade I went for in the end was 1N0 which is the palest shade in the range. So far I am really liking it so expect a review in the coming weeks.

 

Next up I got the N07 Lift and luminate foundation. This is a product that Kathleen lights mentioned a couple of months ago, as a rule any foundation that she likes and recommends I tend to get on with too so I had to give it a go. Compared to the Estee Lauder it is definitely thicker however still doesn't feel heavy. Again shade wise I went for the palest shade however this is definitely darker both the EL and the NYX bases. I have heard a lot about the NYX Total control drops so I have been waiting very patiently for them to drop in stores in the UK. This is similar to the Estee lauder in terms of how thin it is. I am actually yet to try this one but again I will be putting up a review of this once I have tried it properly.

 

 

Moving on to my absolute bargain purchase I picked up the Smashbox Matte exposure palette which is a beautiful collection of both orange and purple toned mattes for £30 and then got a free be legendary lipstick in a shade of my choice for free. I went for the shade Firestorm which is a beautiful orange toned red shade. The palette has 14 shades and also comes with a nice quality double ended brush. Again there will be reviews up of both of these so keep your eyes peeled if you want to know more. 

 

What have you picked up recently?

Summer lip shades

So the sun seems to have disappeared however I am most definitely still in summer mode. Today I thought I would share with you some beautiful summer shades which can brighten up even the most dreary of days.

 

Jeffree Star Watermelon Soda -

 

I absolutely love this shade and am so happy with the fact it is going to be released as a permanent shade. It is a gorgeous bright pink and is basically the perfect bright summer pink shade with a red undertone.

 

Mac Breathing fire -

 

This is like the other end of the spectrum to Watermelon soda, it is an incredible blue toned pink shade. It's a really lovely creamy matte shade which doesn't cling grossly to the dry patches on my lips like so many bright matte pinks do.

 

Clinique Poppy pop -

 

This is one of my all time favourite lipsticks, it is a really pretty orangey piny coral shade. These are a glossy formula meaning it is insanely comfortable but it also doesn't lack in pigmentation. This is

one of those lipsticks that even though it is super bright it doesn't require tonnes of worrying about.

 

Selfipeach, Poppy pop, Evelyn, Breathing fire, Life's a beach, Watermelon soda.

 

NYX Life's a beach -

 

This is such a pretty milky peach shade which I wasn't sure of when I first swatched however I am completely in love with it. As you are aware if you are a regular reader I love the Liquid suede formula.

 

Joan Collins Evelyn -

 

The Joan Collins lipsticks are so comfortable on the lips. Evelyn is a stunning bright raspberry pink shade which I am just living for. This is definitely one for if you want a darker pink shade as I know not everyone loves a neon bright pink.

 

Bourjois Selfipeach - 

 

This is the most red shade out of the lot. It's a red toned orange which just makes the lips look so nice. I love the formula as it almost makes these look like the lips are plumper.

 

I'd love to know what lip shades you have been loving recently.

Maybelline Dream cushion foundation.

Can you believe that it has taken me this long to try out a cushion foundation, Maybelline have recently added the Dream cushion foundation to their range and as I love the dream satin liquid I knew I had to give this one a go. I'm sure you've all seen a cushion foundation before however if you haven't the product is basically in a sponge which enables you to use less product.

 

This has a beautiful skin like finish and actually reminds me of a lower coverage version of the Charlotte Tilbury magic foundation which is one of my favourites at the moment. It is a satin finish whilst I know a lot of cushion bases tend to be on the more dewy side. Despite the fact that it is a satin finish I don't find it clings to any dry patches. On my skin over the day I do get a small amont of shine however I don't set my makeup as a really don't mind a little oil on my skin as it makes it less dry and gross. One thing I will say is that I have the shade Natural Ivory which is the lightest and I am pretty sure I'm not going to be able to wear it when I don't have as much colour to my skin. Also I did find the dark were also very limited which is a shame as it really is one of those foundations which I believe would almost work on all skin types.

 

Other than the colour issue I am actually really impressed with this product and it will be definitely going into my regular rotation.

Wet N Wild Mega glow contour palette

I watch a lot of Amy Macedo on youtube and I have heard so much about this Wet n Wild contour palette from her. So when I saw it pop up on my Amazon I knew I had to give it a go. I went for the shade Dulce de leche which is the lighter of the two. In the product you get two huge pans, one of a very matte pale slightly yellow shade and a fairly warm toned bronzer which for me in a contour shade is strange.

 

 

I have to admit I haven't been using the contour powder as a contour as it is too light however it makes a really beautiful overall bronzer for slightly paler skin. The matte slightly yellow toned powder is really beautiful for setting under the eyes as it is very finely milled therefore doesn't cake on the skin. The packaging is extremely flimsy and when comparing it to my big MUA bronzer it just isn't as tough. I think this would travel okay however I think there is more of a risk of the product getting damaged. The fastening is fairly secure so I cannot see it coming open. 

Overall I am really impressed with this product and can definitely see why American youtubers are hyping this product up. If you are in the UK and want to get your hands on it I ordered mine from Amazon and paid around £6 for it which I cannot complain about. I'd love to know if you have given this product a go!

 



The Budget bronzer edit

I am a big bronzer fan and it's something I don't ever skip. Today I thought I would go through some of my favourite lower end bronzers. I am quite fair however I do like quite a dark bronzer, that being said I think these products could all be used really lightly if you want something a little more subtle.

 

 

First off we have the MUA Bronzed perfection matte bronzer which is absolutely huge. This is a very subtle shade but can be built up to give the skin a really beautiful glow. It's quite pink toned so I definitely prefer it for more all over bronze than a sort of bronzey contour. It also looks absolutely beautiful on just the apples of the cheeks to give the complexion some colour. Next up is a recent purchase which is the Wet and wild contour palette in Dulce de leche. For me this isn't really a contour but more of a targeted bronzer. What I love about this product is that it can be built up to be really deep yet still looks fairly natural on the skin. The powder on the other side is fab for me to set under my eyes now however I think in the winter it may be a little too dark.

 

Moving on to the cult blogger favourites first off is the Soap and Glory Solar powder. This is a beautiful duo of a deep matte bronzer and a light slightly satin shade. What I tend to do with this is stick to the darker side adding in a little of the lighter just to enhance the glow the bronzer gives. This one makes the skin look so healthy and to me is a perfect summer bronzer. The finally one I wanted to talk about today is the Body shop's Honey bronzer in the shade 3. I know a lot of pale people love this in shade 1 but I found for me that was just too light. I love the fact that with this bronzer you have plenty of shade options and you can also go for either a matte or a slightly shimmery finish. This bronzer is ridiculously smooth and I thin it would be perfect for everyday. 

MUA, Wet and wild Dark and light, The Body shop, Soap and glory Dark and light.

Everyday Brow routine

I am a strong brow gal so today I thought I would show you my everyday brow products, now I'm going to apologise for the photo below because my dip brow is looking.... well loved to say the least.

 

So first off I start with my Dipbrow which is in the shade Medium brown, I love this product and so many other people do to. It is perfect for getting a really bold brow but can also be toned down massively to create a more natural looking brow. This shade is perfect for me as it is a nice ashy brown, this is a really nice long lasting product and is completely weather proof. That being said I do like to top the pomade with a little powder just on the arch as I have to sculpt this in as the hair is pretty sparse. I have been using the Freedom brow powder in Ash brown which is a really grey toned brown. This is perfect to just set the pomade in place where there isn't much hair for it to grab onto.

 

To set the brows I have been using Gimme brow as per usual. This is my 3rd tube of this stuff as I just can't find anything which compares to it. It sets the brows in place whilst adding a little bit of volume and making them look more realistic. Finally on the everyday I use a little satin shadow from catrice to go under my brow. I don't tend to carve my brows out with concealer unless it's a special occasion so just stick to a little bit of cream just to make the brow pop a little.

 

So that's it for today, what do you use on your brows?