Beauty ¦ Mani monday #1 - Barry M Blueberry

So I've decided that my blog feels a little bare at the moment so I'm going to start posting on a Monday again. I've decided that for the first Monday of each month I will be doing a little instagram roundup and for all the other Monday's I'll be doing Mani Monday posts as I feel like my nail polish collection doesn't get enough space on my blog. I hope this idea and you enjoy the posts.

 

 

Today I decided to pick one of my favourite summery nail shades. I absolutely adore Barry M gelly polishes. The formula is brilliant and I can find I get a good 3 days without chipping with no top coat (this for me is pretty impressive as my nails seem to chip so easily) I think this shade is perfect for enhancing a tan as it is just so bright yet not to dark.

 



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Beauty ¦ High street vs High end - Nude pairs

At the moment I am absolutely obsessed with nude lips so today I thought I'd show you my favourite High end pairing and my favourite High street pairing and do a little comparison.

 

 

In terms of colour the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow talk lip cheat  and the Rimmel exaggerate liner in east end snob are very similar. East end snob is a little darker and has more mauve-y tones whereas Pillow talk is lighter and on the more peachy side of nude. I really like the formula of both these liners however I do find that Pillow talk is slightly creamier and a little more hydrating. In terms of longevity they are pretty similar, both fade nicely and don't leave patchy colour on the lips after food and drink.

 

Lipstick wise the two shades are completely different, Charlotte Tilbury's K.I.S.S.I.N.G. lipstick in the shade Bitch perfect is a beautiful quite light peachy nude with a slight gloss to it whereas the Bourjois Rouge edition 12 hours in Beige shooting is a very dark mauve-y nude with a more satin-y finish. The formula's are similar both lipsticks apply well and leave the lips well hydrated. I do find that sometimes Beige shooting can emphasise any dry patches on the lips but as long as I use a lip balm underneath this isn't a problem.

 

Overall if you are looking for that Kylie Jenner lip shade then in this instance I'd recommend the drugstore pairing however my heart personally lies with Charlotte Tilbury's offering. I personally prefer the peachy nude on my skin tone and I mean have you seen the packaging?

 

 

 



L-R - Beige shooting, Bitch perfect, East end snob, Pillow talk

 

 

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Beauty ¦ Shop my stash #3

I've ended up in a bit of a makeup rut at the moment and I've found myself reaching for the same products in a daily basis so I thought do a shop my stash to liven up my routine a little.

 

Miss sporty Morning baby bronze BB cream.

This little bottle of magic is amazing for mixing in to super pale foundations to darken them up and add a beautiful bronzey glow. I also really like it as a primer. The only reason I haven't used this much is because I had no tan at all however now I have some colour I feel like I'm going to get loads of wear out of it.

 

Bourjois Healthy mix foundation

I love the serum version of this so I picked up the original version. I've found this is actually a lot darker than the serum so I haven't been able to get much wear out of it. Hopefully like the bronze cream I will be able to get some more wear out of it now I have a bit of colour.

 

 

Essence xxxl long lasting lip gloss Matte effect - Silky red

This is something I was so desperate to try out but I keep forgetting about it. I love the formula of these as they don't feel dry and gross like some matte lip products can. This is a beautiful true red shade which I cannot wait to get more wear out of.

 

Maxfactor Miracle touch creamy blush - Soft pink

I love this blush but because it's so tiny I tend to overlook it and completely forget about it. The name of the shade is pretty perfect. It's a gorgeous soft pink that looks lovely with most lip and eye looks and leaves a lovely subtle flush on the cheeks.

 





The Balm Balm voyage

Because this is such a massive palette it's right at the bottom of my palette draw meaning I have a habit of forgetting about it. This palette has the most amazing mix of shades and it also contains 3 cheek and lip colours. Some of the shades are not to my taste but the mix of neutral and earthy tones

work really well for me.

 

So that's it for today's post! I'd love to know how often you shop your stash?





Beauty ¦ Best of - Lipsticks

 

Now if you're a regular reader over here you will know my obsession with lipsticks so today I thought I would show you my top five lipsticks of all time!

 

 

Bourjois Rouge edition Velvet - Pink pong

 

This is something I haven't had for a long time but it's something that has made it into my favourites very quickly. It has the most incredible shade and I absolutely love it for the summer. The formula is amazing and I definitely need to get some more shades from the range.

 

 

Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G - Bitch perfect

 

A peachy pink for me this is pretty much the perfect nude. The finish is a satin and the formula is creamy and moisturizing on the lips.

 

Seventeen Mirror shine - Beehive

 

This is a brilliant lipstick for those I don't want to wear much makeup lipstick days. It's so glossy and incredibly hydrating on the lips. Its possibly one of the most comfortable wearing lipsticks I've ever used however the lasting power isn't mind blowing due to the formula.

 

 

Mac - Rebel

 

How could I not include this lipstick. I wear this all year round however I do tend to reach for it more often in the winter. The satin formula means it's not drying like a matte however the lasting power is just as good.

 

Rimmel Kate moss - 107

 

This shade is so hyped in the blogging world and I completely get why it's the perfect mix of red and pink. Despite the matte formula it feels beautifully creamy on the lips. I also love other shades from this collection but this is definitely my favourite!

 



 

Beauty ¦ The pastel nail edit

I love a good pastel nail so today I thought I would share some of my current favourite shades!

 

Maybelline Super stay forever strong gel nail colour - Mint for Life

 

This shade actually has it's own post //Here// because I love it that much! The formula of these is just amazing and they are such lovely quality for around the £5 mark.

 

Claire's Pastel neon nail polish

 

This bottle hasn't actually got a shade name just a number ( 29503 ) if anyone want's to know.  It's a gorgeous pastel neon coral (I'm sure you all read my blog for the outstanding colour descriptions!) I hadn't tried any polishes from Claire's but I'm actually really impressed with the quality!

 

Sinful colours - Cinderella

 

This is the most Disney nail polish I have ever seen. It's a gorgeous baby blue shade with lots of tiny rainbow shimmer particles. The one thing I will say though is that it's an absolute nightmare to et off as it leaves behind the tiny bits of shimmer.

 



Nails inc - Cambridge

 

I'm so fussy about lilac nail polishes as I like them to be quite grey toned rather than pink toned. Despite the fact this looks really pink in the photo's it's a fairly grey toned super pale lilac. As always with Nails inc polishes it's super high quality and it only requires 2 coats to get an opaque colour.

 

Barry M Gelly High shine Nail paint  - Huckleberry

 

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know that I love these polishes as the formula is almost as good as the Maybelline ones. This shade is a gorgeous super pale green-y blue. However it is still a blue rather than a mint green.

 

Models own Scented nail polish - Strawberry tart

 

I hate the fact that this is scented as it's so gimmicky but I do love the shade. It's a beautiful strawberry milkshake pink which looks amazing on tanned skin. I wore this one all the time last spring/summer and I can see myself getting a lot of wear out of it this summer too! 



Beauty ¦ The five minute exam face

I know not everyone will be prioritising makeup before exams but today I thought I'd talk you through the five minute face that I've been wearing Decide to wear makeup on exams days. 

I've been starting off with Bourjois's healthy mix which is a beautiful medium coverage really dewy foundation that looks natural. I've then been concealing my under eyes with the Maybelline instant eraser eye. I've then been putting the tiniest bit of the Stila convertible colour in fuschia on my cheeks and that's it for base. 

At the moment I'm back into using me Mac bare study paint pot all over the lids for a super subtle wash of colour. I've also found myself reaching for Soap and Glory thick and fast mascara as its a little less dramatic than my beloved benefit they're real. I've then been running a little bit of Benefit instant brow pencil through my brows and finnishibg up the look with a Charlotte Tilbury's lip cheat in pillow talk! 

Fashion ¦ Orelia London

I'm not one of those girls that has a massive jewellery collection and I tend to wear the same pieces all the time. I was recently scent these two beautiful necklaces from Orelia London and I am so in love with them. The first is the Geometric statement necklace £18* it's just enough to add a bit of something to a plain outfit without being heavy. I am completely in love with it. Something I wasn't 100% about was the mixture of white chain and gold crescent shape  however now I have it I think it adds something a little interesting to the piece. The second is the Double Triangle row necklace £18* which is exactly the kind of thing I would buy, it's very delicate and it looks so beautiful paired with a plain white t-shirt. I feel like this is the one that I'm going to get a lot of wear out of.

Both necklaces are well made and feel high quality and overall I'm super impressed with everything about them. I'd seriously recommend having a look on their website as everything is really reasonably priced.



Beauty ¦ The everyday face #1

I don't normally have an everyday routine however recently I've found myself reaching for the same products day in day out, perhaps changing my blush and eyeshadow or sometimes the lip colour but for a daily Monday to Friday if I've been wearing a full face this is what I've been reaching for.

 



Primer wise I've been loving the L'Oreal Infallible primer as an alternative to Benefit porefessional, I find it works well to blur any imperfections and pores whilst mattifying and leaving the skin super smooth for foundation. For foundation I've been loving Nars sheer glow which is something I hadn't tried up until last month and I don't know how I've managed to live without it. Then I conceal any dark circles and redness with the Maybelline Instant anti age eraser eye and any blemishes with the Seventeen stay time concealer. To finish off my face I've been popping a little bit of Mac Fleur power or Illamasqua flirtatious (Not pictured) on my cheeks and a little bit of Illamasqua gleam in aurora on my cheek bones.

Then moving onto my eyes I first off fill in my brows with the Illamasqua Thunder brow cake then I prime my eyes with the Urban decay Eye shadow primer potion. For shadow I've been using the Stila in the light palette, some of my favourite combinations are Kitten and Sandstone and Bubbly and Glided gold. I then finish off my eyes with lots and lots of Benefit's They're real. The final thing I do is apply my lipstick, this changes on a daily basis however it's very often Charlotte Tilbury Bitch perfect.





Beauty ¦ Rimmel Scandal eyes eyeshadow pencils

A couple of people commented on my April favourites (//Here// if you haven't seen it yet)  last weekend saying how much they liked the look of these so today I thought I'd put up my review with some swatches.  

 

I'm having a bit of a cream eyeshadow moment, I love the convenience and the fact that there is just no worry about creasing. The fact that these are sticks just makes life even easier. These aren't the first shadow sticks I've tried but they are definitely the best. They are really creamy without being slippy and they blend like an absolute dream. I love to wear the darker shade (Bad girl bronze) really blended out for a super simple smokey eye. It's an amazing mix between a copper and a coffee brown shade, it's also amazing for smudging along the lower lash line. The other shade I have which is Bluffing is the perfect everyday natural taupey shade which I've found myself reaching for a lot in the past month.

 

I love the fact that these aren't packed full of shimmer, they are more metallic. As for lasting power I got a good 7 hours without an eye primer and no creasing at all for an entire day when wearing a primer (Urban decay primer potion for reference). Packaging wise the lids fit on well and don't fall off in a makeup bag or in my draw (One of my biggest pet peeves) The only thing I would say is I wish they were twistable instead of needing sharpening.

 

Overall I really love these and I highly recommend them especially at the bargainous price of £4.49

 

If you have any other cream shadow recommendations I'd love to hear them! 

Top - Bad girl bronze Bottom - Bluffing 

Beauty ¦ Spring pinks

 

I love a good bright pink lip but in the autumn and winter they tend to take a backseat in favour of deeper plums and reds. The sunny weather we've had recently (which seems to now be long gone) had me digging out some old favourites from my stash and giving some new shades a go!

 

Topshop Sheer lips in Lolly -

I picked this up in the sales around Christmas time and I really love it. The shade is a very bright but very sheer tint which leaves the lips looking slightly tinted but most of all super glossy and healthy. I don't find the formula sticky and it feels very hydrating. This is definitely the bright for people who are afraid of brights.

 

Clinique Chubby stick intense in Plushest punch -

This was something I picked up in Germany with the summer in mind, I have worn it a fair bit but I feel like I'm going to wear it a lot throughout the summer. This seriously packs a punch colour wise whilst still feeling light and hydrating. The only slight problem I have with it is that the lasting power is quite short however due to the hydration it gives I can get over it!

 

Revlon Matte balm in Showy -

One of the two very bright shades in this line up this is definitely not one for the faint hearted. It's a very blue toned almost neon purple. These balms last a ridiculous time of time on the lips whilst still being creamy and hydrating (I'm sensing a pattern with this one)

 

Maybelline Colour sensational in Shocking coral -

The other almost neon shade in this line up is this absolute beauty. A very orange toned neon pink it seriously makes a statement and I love pairing it with a very toned down face and lots of bronzer. I feel like this is the one I will be reaching for when I have a tan!

 

Gosh velvet touch lipstick in Yours forever -

This is just a pretty standard fuchsia but I really love the formula and the lasting power. It feels super velvety on the lips (as the name suggests) and it last for a crazy amount of time.

 

Bourjois Rouge edition velvet in Pink pong -

I can't quite believe it has taken me this long to give these a try. This shade is a blue toned fuchsia with some serious lasting power. They don't feel drying on the lips despite the lasting power. This has definitely made me want to try more shades. I have my eye on Hot pepper!

 

 

Topshop Lolly, Clinique Plushest punch, Revlon Showy, Maybelline Shocking coral, Gosh Yours forever, Bourjois Pink pong. 

Beauty ¦ Maybelline Leather effect color tattoo's

If you've read my blog for a while now about a year ago I was so obsessed with the maybelline colour tattoo's they were almost the only thing I used on my eyes and I used on and on bronze for about two months straight. However the more I got into the eyeshadow the more they got pushed to the back of my collection and they were just pulled out when I was feeling lazy or was in a rush. This being said when I heard about the new shades being released in the UK I felt a little flutter of excitement.

I really like the new colours as they are more neutral than the last lot there is the beige in the picture above and also a chocolate brown which I didn't manage to get my hands on. The formula is a little dryer than on and on bronze but they are definitely creamier than the matte shades from the line. Vintage plum is an almost completely matte shade with a really lovely creamy texture however I find the pigmentation to lack a little and I find it to be quite patchy. Once blended and built up it's the most beautiful plummy grey shade which works nicely as a base for a smokey eye. I do still like this one but it requires a little more effort than all the other shades I own do.

Creamy beige is a really gorgeous basic camel shade with a little bit of a sheen and a tiny bit of shimmer. This is beautifully pigmented and it's a great one for neutralising any redness/veins on the lids. This one goes on much smoother than vintage plum and it isn't patchy at all. This is the one out of the two that I've been reaching for regularly and it may even overtake my love for on and on bronze and be my favourite colour tattoo shade. As with all the other shades in the line these both last for a good 7-8 hours without much sign of creasing or fading.

If you already love the colour tattoo's I seriously suggest you check out these new additions however if you are a first timer i'd perhaps avoid vintage plum.  

Top - Creamy beige   Bottom - Vintage plum 

Beauty ¦ More new releases from Miss sporty

It really doesn't feel that long ago since I last wrote about new releases from Miss sporty but here I am again to show you the brand new summer collection. I'm super excited about this one and I'm really impressed with all the products. So without further ado I shall tell you about them.         

 Miss sporty clubbing colours 1 minute quick dry nail polishes*

The clubbing colours nail polishes are something I've really liked for a long time, I used to buy them all the time when I was younger and I already had a couple in my stash. One of my favourite shades is Pop fiction so I put the old formula against the new formula and I just found it was a better formula the reformulation went on a little smoother and a little more opaque it dried a little faster the the old formula. In terms of finish the new formula is a little more glossy and the finish is a little more gel like. They also changed the brush and made it thicker which I much prefer. There is going to be 18 shades of these and I will work my way through them all and let you know my favourites. 

Miss sporty Fabulous eyes Glossy shadow sticks*

From top to bottom - Gold almond, Peanut butter, Chocolate chip, Strawberry coulis, Earl grey cupcake

I love eyeshadow crayons as they are just so easy, these ones are really lovely. They are quite sheer and aren't the most pigmented but I find they are perfect for just throwing on and going. My favourite shade is peanut butter which is the most beautiful rose gold shade which is amazing for just adding a little bit of colour onto the lids. The name Glossy shadow put me off at first as I thought they would be really slippy but they set down really nicely and stick around for a good 6 hours without a primer and all day with a primer. 

 Left to right - Gold almond, Peanut butter, Chocolate chip, Strawberry coulis, Earl grey cupcake 

Miss sporty Eye millionaire eye liners*

I'm not a big liner wearer anymore although I do still like a little bit of liner on my tight line. I haven't used the purple or the grey yet but the black and the brown are both really lovely. They are really pigmented and they have a really gorgeous texture and they feel almost gel like. They last nicely and I've been really enjoying using them. 

 From left to right - Winning purple, Silver grey, Money brown, Clover black 

Miss sporty lash millionaire false lash effect mascara and Morning baby BB cream in bronze*

The final two bits I have are a mascara which I'm yet to use as I already have a couple of mascaras to open. The final thing today for today is the Morning baby BB cream in bronze which I've been using over my primer and under my foundation. It's too dark to use on it's own but I feel like I may be able to get away with wearing it alone in the summer. It doesn't offer much coverage but it evens out the skin and adds a little bit of a glow. 

So that's it all of these products will be out on the 9th april in boots and superdrug stores. 

* I was sent these to review but all opinions are my own. 

Beauty ¦ The face - The almost smoky eye

After digging the products out for my shop my stash post //Here// I did my makeup with the products that I picked out and really liked the way it ended up so I thought I'd share it with you. 

So I started off with the Maxfactor CC cream  and then used my Maybelline fit me concealer in any blemishes and under my eyes. I then used the highlighter side if the Seventeen contour kit to set my concealer as it's just a  pale matte powder so it works really nicely as a setting powder. I then used the contour side to contour with and applied a little bit of Natural collection Pink cloud blush on my cheeks. 

Moving on to my eyes I used the Collection eyeshadow pencil all over my lid as a base and then highlighted my brow bone with the Catrice single shadow in Ooops nude did it again. I also popped this shade on the tops of my cheekbones. I then did my brows with the benefit instant brow pencil just roughly filling them in as they are in need of a little bit of love at the moment. 

Then moving back onto my eyes I used rose ash from the Mua palette all over my lid, ran chino lightly through my crease then used titan on the outer V. I then used a little bit more of chino on a blending brush and lightly blended it all together. Then I used the Miss sporty kohl liner on my waterline and tightline smudging a little under my eye with the brush I used for the darkest shade titan. I then finished off my eyes with lashings of the Seventeen doll'd up mascara. 

Finally for lip I used the Korres jasmine lip butter as a sort of base and then I used Seventeen's mirror shine lipstick in Beehive over the top for a gorgeous glossy pinky nude shade! 

Beauty ¦ Rimmel by Kate - Red nose Red

This is just a little bonus post as I wanted to tell you all about this lipstick whilst you can still pick it up. Lipstick for charity ummm yes please. If you're a regular reader you will know that I am a massive fan of red lipstick, this is a really gorgeous true red shade if leaning a little pink. This is actually the shade 01 in the limited edition spotty packaging. Despite being a limited edition shade the formula hasn't been compromised,  I love the formula of these lipsticks and the lasting power is brill. £1.67 from each of these lipsticks sold goes to comic relief so it's for a really fantastic cause.

I you'd like an excuse to buy a new lipstick this is definitely a get out of jail free card, I mean it's for charity c'mon!

Beauty ¦ Revlon Photoready Primer, shadow and sparkle palettes.

How beautiful are these palettes! I picked them up on an amazing deal in boots, and I am so glad I did. I don't think i've ever read anything about these which is crazy as they are incredible! Each palette contains a primer shade which was not what I expected as it's just another powder shadow, a lid shade, a crease shade, a browbone shade and a stunning glitter to pack on top of the shadows. 

The quality of the shadows is gorgeous, they are really buttery and the pigmentation really packs a punch. The shades aren't overly glittery so when you pop the glitter on top it doesn't look too over the top. I can't say I've used the primer shade a lot as I need quite a strong eye primer. I did use it once and I just found that it really didn't help with creasing which occurred within around four hours however with a primer (Mac bare study if you were wondering) these shadows lasted all day. I really like the colours in the palettes and they all work really nicely together. 

On the back of each palette there is a little diagram to show you where to apply the shadows. The casings are nice and sturdy and I like the way you can see the shades through the little window as it looks really pretty in my collection. Impressionist is my favourite for everyday as it is gorgeous neutral palette with some beautiful shades. Metropolitan is brilliant for a more dramatic evening look. The sparkle shades in the palettes are my favourite shades in the palette as they really make the looks pop. 

Overall I really like these palettes and I seriously suggest you give them a go. They are really lovely drugstore palettes! 

 505 Impressionist

501 Metropolitan 

Beauty ¦ New In #1 - Topshop lipsticks

I didn't pick up much in the sales this year but these are something I knew I wanted to go and see if my topshop had any left. I intended to go and pick up both lipsticks in the little christmas decoration packet but when I got to the counter I saw they had also reduced a set with Beguiled and a cream blush (My absolute favourite drugstore blushes) in it so I settled on Hazard in decoration form and Beguiled in the set. The decorations were on sale for £4 and the set was a bargainous £6 meaning I got £22 worth of products for £10 that's a rather massive score in my eyes! 

Beguiled is a gorgeous deep pinky berry shade and reminds me of a more purple version of my beloved Rimmel Kate moss 107. However in texture it reminds me a lot of Mac Rebel. A slightly satin finish that can be a little bit drying if the lips aren't prepared properly. I've been wearing this one a lot with very minimal makeup everywhere else.  One of my favourite Reds ever is from this range so the shade Hazard had a lot to live up to. It's a much more classic red than Rio Rio and is also quite a bit deeper verging on a vampy red rather than a bright red. The formula of this one is fairly similar to Beguiled however I do find it to be a slight bit creamier and less drying. In terms of Topshop saying these lipsticks are matte formula I would say they are much more satiny than a matte lipstick and I would say the formula is very similar to Mac's satin finish. These lipsticks last really well and I would highly suggest trying them. I think I want to try some nudes next I've heard so much about nevada. 

Topshop lipsticks can be bought //Here// for £8 

Top-Beguiled Bottom-Hazard 

Beauty ¦ The Budget friendly cleanser

In all honesty I'm really not that into skincare but one thing I want to do this year is attempt to improve my skincare routine and try out some more products. I was perfectly happy with my Body shop camomile cleansing butter but when it was almost time for a repurchase I decided to have a quick scour of the shelves of boots to see if I could find something more affordable. 

I've heard a lot about the good things range and when I spotted this I decided to just bite the bullet and go for it. I don't think I've read any posts about this cleaner (read that as remember reading) I've been having a lot of trouble with my skin being dry at the moment so I was even more drawn to it when I realised it said it was hydrating. 

So lets start with the basics Ingredients wise to me things look pretty good (Please note I am not a skincare guru/mastermind/other words of choice ovbs) bar the fact that there is some artificial fragrance in this cleanser I can't see anything to bad. This product does contain some royal jelly which is fabulous for dehydrated skin however it is quite far down the ingredients list. Scent wise the product is quite pleasant, it doesn't smell as good as some skincare products. I don't find the fragrance to be overpowering. I like the packaging of this as it find it very easy to use as it's in a squeezy tube rather than in a pot. 

So onto the actual product, i'm actually really impressed. The cleanser works really effectively and removes all my makeup with no fuss at all. The product feels very gentle on the skin and feels like it is removing all traces of makeup etc but not stripping the skin. I've also found it to be very soothing (I presume this is own to the royal jelly) I'm also really impressed as it hasn't broken me out which I almost expected with it being so cheap. 

Overall if you're looking for a nice budget cleanser that works well at removing makeup I highly suggest you give this one a go! 

Good things Manuka honey Creamy cleanser is available //Here// for £4.99