Charlotte Tilbury Foundation Stick | Review

 I went on a cruise recently and knew that I would end up getting sucked into buying something in duty free. I didn't even try to fight it and went straight to the Charlotte Tilbury counter (or did the universe drag me there, who's to know?) I was initially hoping to buy a powder highlighter but they didn't have any so my next choice was the foundation stick. 

I love this product. I was sceptical on seeing the reviews online and because of the fact that it is marketed as a 'sheer' coverage foundation. I have clear skin now (which is a whole other story... it took me the best part of 15 years to achieve clear skin) but I still have some scarring and a few marks.

My mum kept commenting on how 'fresh' my skin looked and it was perfect for the hot weather because it didn't feel like I was wearing any product. I tended to wear it on its own during the day with a few dabs of concealer here and there but in an evening when it was a bit cooler, I wanted a bit more coverage so I used a small amount of my regular foundation on top of it. It is marketed as 'hydrating' and this is a claim I absolutely agree with. I suffer with dry skin but this went on like a dream. 

I bought a shade darker than I would usually buy (4 Fair) because I tend to use tan on my face during the summer and I was hoping to catch a bit of sun whilst I was on holiday (every time I deceive myself into thinking I'll get a tan knowing full well I won't and will ultimately return home disappointed... it's a vicious cycle of unfounded hope and inevitable disappointment). I think I will probably buy the lighter shade but maybe not until next Spring when I will get more use out of it. 

Another Charlotte Tilbury product that just hits the mark. I just love the gentle bit of shimmer and highlight it gives you without being overwhelming. It costs £35 and you can buy it directly from the Charlotte Tilbury website. 

Maybelline Sky High Mascara | Review

 

You know that question people ask about which beauty product would you keep if you could only keep one? Well, I've thought long and hard about it. Mine would without a doubt be mascara. I can never get over how having a mascara that lifts and defines your lashes can make such a difference to your whole face. Plus, depending on whether you opt for a brown or a black or a blue (I know!!), your whole look can change.

I have always gone for a black mascara. My philosophy has always been to play up the lashes as I am fortunate enough to have naturally long lashes (as my old hairdresser used to comment on every time she tinted my eyebrows!) and I just wanted to enhance what was already there.

Then, in true internet-age fashion, there were a lot of posts cropping up about wearing brown or burgundy mascara if you are red-headed or have blue eyes to really make your features pop. So I wanted to try something other than black for a change and see if there was a noticeable difference. Then I saw the range of shades from Maybelline's Sky High Lash Sensational mascara and knew that was going to be the one to drag me away from my trusty waterproof black.

I love Maybelline's mascaras anyway. I am sure I have tried almost all of them at one point or another and Maybelline are a brand I trust to have good quality products without a hefty price tag. I tried the brown first and enjoyed the formula: it went on nicely and didn't clump which is always important. It was easy to build up and gave a natural, almost no makeup kind of look. But you know me and my lashes - that's not always going to cut it! So I decided to try the Burgundy Haze shade (a nod to Taylor, perhaps? I would like to think so) and I love it. It's a much deeper, richer shade than brown but just a bit less ordinary than the black. I think I would like all of my mascaras to be burgundy from now on. 

It comes off easy with makeup remover. Sometimes mascaras can linger on the lashes even after a double cleanse but there is none of that with this product. 

Also, just to clarify: I loved both mascaras. Although the brown didn't give the dramatic effect I originally wanted, I found it is great for work days when I don't want to look like I am wearing lots of makeup. The burgundy is most definitely my go-to night out mascara, especially now that it's summer and it's still light and sunny (occasionally) when I go out so you can really catch the burgundy in the light.

You can buy different shades of the Maybelline Sky High mascara from Superdrug and Boots for £12.99. I really want to try the pink or blue one next!

Have you tried any of them yet? What did you think?

NYX Fat Oil | Review

 

I go through phases of loving either lip gloss or lipstick. I love a lipstick until I see someone wearing lip gloss and it looks so fresh and clean and lovely, especially during spring and summer. Then all I want to wear is lip gloss. So during one of my most recent change of hearts, I bought the NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip in two shades: Follow Back (the peachy, shimmery shade) and Supermodel (the beautiful pink shade). 

I suffer with dry lips all year round and often find that lipsticks cling to dry patches and end up looking awful. You don't get that with a lip gloss (another reason to love them) and especially the NYX Fat Oil because it is infused with Squalene, Raspberry and Cloudberry oils so you get some hydration as well a beautiful colour! 

The pink is incredibly pigmented for a lip gloss. So much so that I haven't quite yet found an occasion to wear it. Maybe once the sun starts to shine a bit more (is that delusional?) then I might find a good fit for it. For now, the peach shade is my go-to. 

It's thick and quite sticky. I recently went for a night out and it was very windy so I spent a lot of time whilst waiting for the train pealing hair away from my lips worrying that I was going to have streaks of Follow Back all over my face. Thankfully that wasn't the case and the damage was limited. If you like a product to feel light and barely there, this might not be the one to opt for. I don't mind the thick nature of it and I would probably argue it helps the product last longer on the lips. 

I will admit that any lip products I wear do not last very long on me. I am always envious of my best friend who can make her lipstick last all evening, even after eating or drinking. Me? Not a chance. It's like I make it my subconscious mission to leave no trace behind as soon as possible. The point is that I'm not the best judge of the staying power of lip products. I can maybe make this last an hour, slightly longer perhaps, but I'm not adverse to reapplying a gloss on the go (even without a mirror). 

Top swatch: Follow Back
Bottom swatch: Supermodel

I love that they both have a subtle shimmer to them and I just feel like they add a bit of something extra to a makeup look. You can buy them from Boots or Superdrug for £7.99. I just know that Follow Back is going to serve me well over summer and I'm currently thinking that Supermodel might be the cherry on top of the cake for my Taylor Swift eras outfit (did someone say Lover...?)

Liquid Blush | Review

I have always been a powdered blush kind of girl. But then I always opted for a matte finish with my foundation so powder just seemed to make sense. Over the past couple of years however, in a bid to have a glowy, healthy-looking complexion, I have been using liquid blush.

I will admit, I was worried at first that I would struggle with liquid blush as my skin is naturally quite dry and so I wasn't sure how it would take. That being said, my 'glow journey' has seen an upheaval in my skincare products too so the worry was unnecessary. I've mastered the base and that allowed me to try some products outside of what I would usually reach for. 

The first one I tried was The Collection Filter Finish Liquid Blush Land, knowing that the applicator was similar to the famous Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand (and wanting to try it out before splashing out on something expensive). I loved the collection's version. I use the shade Peach Pleasure and it is a great shade for summer - a lovely, golden, peachy glow. It is really easy to blend (I use a brush) and can be built up for a deeper colour too. 

Top swatch: Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm
Bottom swatch: The Collection Peach Pleasure

Compared to the Charlotte Tilbury version, it is not as pigmented. But I don't mind that too much. I think it gives a perfect subtle glow on those days when you want to look slightly fresher faced. Once I was convinced that my skin was happy to welcome a new type of product into my makeup bag, I splurged on a Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Beauty Light Wand. I use the shade Pinkgasm and it is perfect 'just spent a few hours in the sun without sun cream' look but without the dreaded sun damage. 

Both are quite shimmery which helps to add a glow. The Charlotte Tilbury blush definitely has more staying power and tends to last most of the day without a setting spray. The Collection's liquid blush fades quicker in comparison. That being said, I do find the latter easier to blend.

I will say though, I have to make sure my skin is properly hydrated before I use either product. If I've had a couple of no makeup days at home and I haven't moisturised as thoroughly as I should have done (or at all... Look, I'm human ok?) then I tend to find it doesn't sit as well on top of my foundation and both can be quite difficult to blend. But that's absolutely my fault for skipping my skincare and not the products' fault.

Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Beauty Light Wand - £30 from the Charlotte Tilbury website

The Collection Filter Finish Liquid Blush Wand - £5.99 from Boots

Are you a fan of liquid blush? Which brand has your favourite?

Jess x

L'oreal Infallible Unlimited Mascara: Review

If I could only keep one item from my makeup bag it would have to be mascara. Even with all the makeup in the world I never feel like my look is complete without a splash of a good mascara. My go-to has the Rimmel Wonder'full Mascara but I like to try something new every now and then, just in case it's the next best thing. 

So I went for the L'oreal Infallible Unlimited Mascara, on the recommendation of a friend. The main feature of this mascara that is different to the rest of those on the high street is the bendable brush. It's said to make it easier to coat all of your lashes as you can coat them from more than one angle. I'll be honest, I never really use the brush whilst bent, I don't think it really makes the process any easier. I do think the shape of the wand helps though - the way it narrows at the end makes it really easy to catch those lashes in the corner of your eye as well as those small, fiddly bottom lashes. 

I love the formula - it's quite wet but I think that adds to the ease of the application. A couple of quick brushes along the lashes and they look effortlessly sleek and long. The colour is also so dark that it makes your lashes pop straight away. I always think there's a bit of a wearing-in process with a mascara; I tend to keep Mark. Lash Styler Tool nearby to comb out any lashes that have clumped together. This problem tends to lesson as I use the mascara more and the formula becomes a bit drier. Then I can use it solo!

I'm not sure yet whether I like this more than the Rimmel Wonder'full Mascara but I am enjoying using it. My lashes look as good at the end of the day as they do after the initial application. It sticks and eliminates the problem of the product flaking off throughout the day. 

Have you tried the L'oreal Infallible Unlimited Mascara? What did you think?

xo

Favourite Few: Beauty

I am a creature of habit. Once I find a makeup routine that I'm happy with, I tend to stick with it for a long while. But every now and then I try a new product that has been the focus of every beautiful Instagram photo on every beauty guru's social media account, and it ends up being a permanent addition to my makeup bag. So here are some of the tried and tested products I've been loving lately! 

Younique, Glorious Primer | I have a love/hate relationship with this primer. It's brilliant in so many ways - it provides a really smooth base to apply foundation, it genuinely keeps your makeup on all day and helps it look the best it can. On days that I wear the primer there's a visible difference in the state of my makeup and I wonder why I've gone so long without it. That being said, you need to use so much of it for it to work well and it's expensive too. Whilst the product is good, it doesn't really seem worth spending the  money on when you have to replace it so frequently.

Rimmel, Wonder'Full Mascara | This might just be one of my favourite mascaras ever. I did a review of it last March which you can read here. I still stand by what I said then - it's creamy and nourishing and holds well through the day. The only difference between the mascara I reviewed last year and this one is the colour. I bought it in extreme black this time but sometimes a simple black just won't do.

Rimmel, Kate Sculpting Palette | One of the only things I enjoy about wearing makeup in summer is a good highlighter. Although I'm not massively into the sculpting/contouring trend, I do like to use a highlighter or illuminator on my cheekbones because it adds something a bit more summery to your average, everyday makeup. I love this little palette because it provides the perfect compliment between the blush and the shimmer. It's subtle and understated and perfect for daytime wear. 

What products have you been enjoying using lately? Have you discovered anything new?

Covergirl Blast Flipstick

Happy New Year! I hope your year is off to a lovely start. Even though I haven't been posting much of here lately, I've had some lovely comments and emails and even some new followers over the Christmas holidays so thank you for that! It warms my heart!

Over the Christmas holidays, Callum and I went to visit his mum down in Wales. We only went for a couple of days but we had a good time and somehow I managed to squeeze in a makeup purchase. How do I manage it? On the second day we were there we went for breakfast at Frankie and Bennies (their pancakes are amazing, worth getting up early to go) and then did a bit of shopping afterwards. Callum's mum pointed out a beauty discount store and suggested we go in. I wasn't going to say no, was I? While rummaging through the nail varnishes and lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes, I found a collection of Covergirl lipsticks in and amongst everything else and I was drawn to them like a magnet.

When I went to New York last year I did a bit of shopping in Sephora but completely forgot to raid the CVS and Duane Reade stores for drug street brands. So I missed out on some Covergirl products that I'd been wanting to try. Covergirl is a difficult brand to find in the UK but I've been intrigued by their products for a while so I was going to snap up any chance I had to try some of their products. As soon as I spotted the Blast Flipstick, I tested out a few shades and settled on Vixen, a shimmery pink shade. 

The idea of having two shades is to create an ombre lip. I did this the first time I tested the product and while I loved the affect, I didn't love the colour. The dark pink shade was a bit too dark for me but the lighter pink shade was perfect. Instead of wearing them together I've resorted to wearing the lighter pink shade on it's own (well, with lots of vaseline!) The staying power is really good, I can't fault it. I do however think that the formula is a bit dry and as someone who generally struggles with dry lips, it disappointed me. 

I'd liked to try this product in a different colour before I completely make my mind up about it though. Hopefully I'll stumble over some more some time soon! If you want to read more about them, you can find them on the Covergirl website. Have you ever tried these products? What are your favourite lip products?

The Body Shop Shimmer Lip Balm

My lips are dry at the best of times. Throughout winter I have to make an extra effort to keep from them from becoming too dry and chapped (I've given up on them ever being normal) so I always keep a couple of lip balms in my bag and coat pockets. I bought the Shimmer Lip Balm from The Body Shop a few months ago but haven't used it much. When I was last clearing out my makeup drawers, I found it still packaged in the depths of all my other lip products. I decided it was time to give it a full test run. I have to say, I'm in two minds about it. But then again, I always am with The Body Shop lip balms. I want to love them but for some reason they always fall short.

For those of us that don't always like to wear a bold lip, a lip balm with a little extra something is the perfect substitute. I love the colour of this one from The Body Shop because it has a hint of natural colour and just the right amount of shimmer. Nothing is ever perfect though and this balm doesn't last very long. If it's the only lip product I have on me I'm forever taking it out of my bag to top it up. It's not particularly moisturising either so it's not often I opt for this over a Carmex or Vaseline.

I couldn't just let it lay in my makeup drawer though. I liked the colour enough to start wearing on top of other lip colours. I generally wear it with nude colour because it matches well with a more subdued look. But as much as I love the colour, for £6 I wouldn't say it was worth it. You can have a nosey at it on The Body Shop website here but I'd definitely say that there are much better lip balms out there (for a better price too!) 

Makeup Revolution Blush Lacquer

Blusher is the easier way to add colour to a makeup look and generally requires little skill or practice. Just dab a brush in the pan and apply to the apples of the cheeks or cheekbones. The trouble is that the simplicity of applying blusher doesn't extend to liquid colour. I've tried a few cream blushers and found them quite difficult to use but I'd never tried a liquid blusher before. This lacquer from Makeup Revolution was no different, if anything is was actually harder to use. 

When Makeup Revolution first popped up, I was intrigued by their products. They were cheap and the quality was and still is comparable to higher end brands. This Vivid Blush Lacquer was one of the first products I tried from Makeup Rev but it's one that I don't particuarly love. I did quite a bit of research of these products as I was writing this review because I wondered whether I was the only person to not get along with it. Turns out that a lot of the issues I had with it, others had too.

The colour is amazing, I'll just say that. 'VIVID' is definitely the right word. The deep pink/red nature makes it a perfect autumnal colour. It comes with a handy pump but a not-so-handy portion is released if you press the pump all the way down. It only needs a tiny pump for you to get enough colour for both cheeks so you have to be really careful otherwise you'll end up wasting a lot of product. The formula also dries really quickly, making it hard to blend out and hardly suitable for those with dry skin. I'd say that the easiest way to blend this product is with a buffing brush. Ideally you need something that is sturdy and is quick to work with. If I ever use this product (on occasion I give it another go hoping that it will be the day I finally fall in love with it... Never happens) I'll apply three small dots of product on the apples of cheeks and blend around with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. The good thing is that when you do master the art of applying this product, it has a finish like a stain so lasts all day!

It's such a shame that the product is hard to use because the colour is beautiful. It just feels like too much to contend with when I'm applying my makeup. I want a blusher that's as easy as swirling a brush in the pan and swiping across my cheek bones. I think I'll be sticking with my powder blushers from now on. I can only find a few of the shades online on the Superdrug (£3) and Makeup Revolution (£1) websites.

Have any of you tried this product? What is your take on the Liquid vs. Powder Blush Debate?

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Seventeen: Base, Lips & Cheeks

I'll be honest, I haven't tried many Seventeen products until recently. The vibe of the brand is quite young and it seems like a brand I'd have been drawn to when I was thirteen and just starting to wear makeup. Also having worked in Superdrug for over a year (hello staff discount) I sacrificed sampling Boots brands for Superdrug brands. I'm always open to shopping around brands, especially for good items that are a bit more budget friendly. Seventeen is a brand that you should check out if you're on a student budget or just want to save a few pounds here and there. The Boots beauty team were kind enough to send me some items from the brand to check out and I really enjoyed giving them a test drive.

Cheek Stamp | £4.99 This was the first product I tried because I was so fascinated by the packaging. It comes with a handy little mirror on the lid which you twist off to find a sponge on one side and the actual blusher hidden inside the lid. The basic idea is that you just stamp the circular sponge on the cheek but by doing this you run the risk of looking like coco the clown.  So it's best to go in with a lighter hand and swipe across the cheekbone. I thought the stamp concept was good at first but quickly changed my mind about it. In the future I'll probably even opt for just dipping my blusher brush in the lid.

Wow Skin Primer | £5.99 I wasn't so sure about this one when I first saw it. It looked a bit too shimmery. But I actually really liked this product. It's thicker than other primers, more like a cream in consistency. As soon as I put it on I noticed that my skin looked a lot brighter. If your comfortable in your skin I'd say this was good enough to wear on it's own, for a healthy glow. I wore it under foundation and found that my complexion looked a lot brighter even then. This one gets a thumbs up from me.

Stay Pout Lipstick | £4.49 This is by far my favourite from the bunch. My main issue with lipsticks, usually, is finding one that won't dry out my lips. When I first applied this and it almost immediately started to dry, so I worried. I was also concerned about the colour (shade: Just a Fling). As you can see it looks more like a brown/nude colour, one that I immediately thought would end up in my mum's hand bag, not mine. It actually wound up being really comfortable to wear, not drying at all. And the colour was lovely too. It looked more pink/nude on the lips than it does in the bullet so it ended up being a good colour match. The staying power of this is unbelievable too, I've never known a high street brand to last like this one does.

Let me know if you've tried any of these products and what you thought of them! I'd also love to hear more Seventeen recommendations if you have any.

My Top Highlighting & Illuminating Products

Not so long ago I wrote a post containing my favourite skin brightening products so I thought I'd follow up with some cosmetic partners that give a lovely glow. I have been higlighter obsessed lately, I really don't know what came over me but in the past few months I've accumulated quite a collection of highlighting products.

Let's start with my most recent purchase and most recent love - the Topshop Glow highighting pot. First of all I love this because it's a cream highlighter so it blends in really easily with foundation, perfect for those of you who like a dewy finish. I also love it because it's a neutral colour.

Let me explain further. The Makeup Revolution Baked Highlighter featured on my blog a few months ago. While I still love it and while it's still my most reached for highlighter (powders tend to be easier and quicker to apply - lazy!), it's a peach/pink toned product. Therefore I only really wear it alongside pink-toned blushers. I just think it ties a look together that way. The Topshop highlighter, however, can be paired with any blusher. A little dab along the tops of the cheekbones is just enough for a subtle highlight that looks lovely on it's own or paired with your favourite blusher. I like to wear it alongside my Hourglass blushers.

The B. Sweet Illuminating Serum is another product that featured on my blog this year. This is a good one for an all over glow (maybe for the new strobing fad that I've been reading about everywhere rather than just highlighting). If you wear it on it's own or under foundation, it gives a soft, healthy glow. I tend to still go in with the Makeup Rev highlighter on my cheekbones for a little added glow.

The Sleek Contouring and Blush Palette is probably my least reached for product. But I like it because it's really handy for travelling. I also already have the Rose Gold blusher that features in it so I use it less than my other highlighting products. All that being said though, it's ideal for a three step contour, highlight and blush in one go. Quick, simple and no fuss. The colour pay off of this highlighter isn't as good as the Makeup Rev product but it's a relatively neutral shade (well, more so than the Makeup Rev highlighter) so it has it's pros and cons.

I'm slightly sad that summer is ending and I'm having to fade out my highlighters in favour of a more autumnal makeup look. Well, we'll see. I might cave in every now and then. It's going to be a hard love affair to end!

What are your favourite highlighters?

Topshop Makeup: 'Stripped' Eyeshadow

It's been a while since I've dabbled in Topshop's makeup collection. I think I bought a lip crayon a few years ago and didn't love it so never went back to buy anything else. However lately I've had a bit of an obsession with highlighting products and I'd seen the Topshop Glow pot on a few blogs and I knew it was something wanted to try. So while I was in Topshop gifting myself with a new highlighter that we all know I didn't really need, I also bought a single eyeshadow cream and and an eyeshadow palette. I thought I'd love the highlighter more than the others but it turns out than the eyeshadow cream was the winner for me.

I bought it in the shade Stripped and it's a lovely pink colour. It's one of those shades that you can get way with wearing through the day because it's fairly neutral. I gave it a test drive when I was in Amsterdam at the weekend and I really liked it. I've been wearing it on it's own through the day and then spicing it up a little bit in an evening with a bit of a darker colour in the crease of my eye and a bit of black eyeliner too. Everyone loves a diverse product, don't we?

The only issue I had with it was the creasing. When I went without an eyeshadow primer, by the end of the day there wasn't much colour left on my lids. But I'll just point out that I had been wearing it 12 hours and it was a hot day in Amsterdam so I don't really blame it for melting off a little bit. That being said, it does obviously wear better with a good primer. I've been using one from Smashbox and just applying the eyeshadow with my finger over the top. One sweep over my lips is enough for a light wash of colour but I usually go in with another layer so the colour is a bit more intense.

As for the other products I bought - I haven't had a go with the eyeshadow palette yet and I'm in two minds about the highighter. I'll update you when I make up my mind about them both.

Have you tried any of the Topshop makeup? What are your favouite products? 

A Red Lip for Everyone

Everyone has a lipstick preference - everyone loves a different shade of red and everyone loves a different finish. Whether it be a bright red with a sheer finish or a deep red with a matte finish, there's a red lipstick to suit everyone. Today I'm sharing with you some of my favourites and hopefully there's something for everyone in this bunch!

First up - the brighter reds. The Revlon lip butter in 035 Candy Apple is a favourite for a moisturising, sheer cover. Perfect if you're just starting out with a red lip and don't want to go too bold. It wears really nicely but obviously doesn't last so long due to it's balmy consistency. It's much better for daytime wear too! If you want something equally as bright but with more intense colour and a longer wear time, try the Rimmel Provocalips in 500 Kiss Me You Fool. This is a two step /double-ended system - colour first and balm second (to lock in the colour and add shine). This is great because it lasts as long as matte colours but with added shine! Bonus! 

For a deeper red, try  Rimmel Apocalips in 402 Across the Universe. This lip lacquer really makes me wish I went more places that require a red lip (along with places that require giving my Kurt Geiger heels a night out). It's a beautiful colour and lasts forever. If you forget to take it off before bed, it will still be there in the morning. It just doesn't budge. It does dry quite matte after a while but the shine should last long enough (at least long enough for you to spy a bathroom and do a quick touch up!) Also along the deep red route is the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 08 Grand Cru. It's a matte colour and a really deep red, almost burgundy. If you prepare your lips well, yeah you know the whole scrub and moisturise palaver, then it should wear well. One warning though: don't leave the cap off. Mine dried out pretty quickly whilst I was taking these photos, when I went to swatch it on my hand the product came out clumpy and uneven. Pretty disappointing!

The most average lipstick of the bunch is probably Eva's Pure Red from the L'oreal Color Riche collection. If you want an ordinary lipstick with good colour, then this is the one for you. It's wear time is average and it's neither moisturising nor drying. It's average. But it's a lovely colour! It's one of those staple products so if you're just starting to dabble in the reds, try this one.

What are you favourite red lipsticks? Do you prefer a bright red or a deep red? Matte or shine?

End note: I completely didn't realise how much I loved the Rimmel Apocalips range until I wrote this post. Honestly, I have nothing but good things to say about this lip lacquer and now I just want to go out wearing it every day and also purchase ALL the colours in the range. Every single one. But I won't... Probably. Maybe. We'll see.

Rimmel '45' Kate Moss Nude Lipstick

You may have noticed a lot of focus on nudes on my blog lately (strictly of the makeup variety, of course). I've always thought understated makeup was the best direction for me, especially for daytime wear. My makeup, nail varnish (example: here and here) and a lot of my clothes are all very neutral, nude tones. So when I saw Kate Moss's new nude lipstick range for Rimmel floating around twitter I knew I had to check them out.

It took a while. I went in and out of a couple of Boots and Superdrugs and while they had a couple of the shades left, they didn't have the one that I wanted. The one that I thought would be perfect for me - we're talking that muted mauve/dusty rose kind of colour again. When I did eventually find it and took it home to try, I loved it. So did my mum too, apparently, who saw it lying on my bed while we were on holiday and decided she'd give it a try. Sneaky! 

Rimmel have a reputation for good lipsticks. Everyone loves the autumnal 107 shade and it's a staple in many girls' makeup collections. They have good wear time, they apply nicely and there's a good range of shades too - even better now that there's a nude to suit everyone (so they claim). There are five shades in the nude range each adapted to suit cool/warm/neutral skin tones and cost £5.49.

For a high street lipstick I often recommend Rimmel for quality and price point. Even if nudes aren't your thing, stop by the Rimmel stand if you're looking for a new lipstick! 

Have you tried any of the Rimmel lipsticks? What is your favourite nude?

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My Favourite Core Makeup Brushes

I don't do a lot of fancy artwork with my makeup so the extent of my makeup brush collection is tiny. For me, it basically comes down to getting the perfect base so my favourite and most used brushes are face brushes.

Real Techniques Duo-Fiber Face Brush | For a long time I used a really thick, heavy brush for applying powder. Then I learned that using such a heavy duty brush was displacing the foundation and concealer I'd so carefully applied underneath. This Powder brush from Real Techniques is perfect from loosely applying powder to stop shine or set foundation/concealer in place.

Avon Blusher Brush | First of all I love this brush because it's really soft. Second of all, it's shape is tailored to make blusher application incredibly easy. It's a bit cheaper that some of the other blusher brushes from other brands but it's quality is still top notch.

Real Techniques Cheek Brush | Again, another super soft brush. This one is a bit thicker and I often use it to either 1) blend in some blusher if I've been a bit over generous or 2) apply highlighter. It's a thick-headed brush so it holds a lot of product too which makes it perfect for applying a bit of colour whether it be blusher, highlighter or bronzer.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush | I used to apply my foundation with my hands and it was a sticky, messy way of going about it. I eventually bought a sponge but I just felt like it ate the product and I didn't get much of a finish. Then I went and bought the RT Expert Face Brush and it transformed my foundation game. I squeeze a bit of foundation onto the back on my hand, dab my brush in it and then apply by 'buffing' in small circles. It gives a lovely even finish.

For a flawless base, I don't think you can go wrong with these brushes. Avon's brushes are really good quality to say they're pretty cheap and you know you can't go wrong with Real Techniques!

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Skin Brightening Products

We all want to know the secret behind bright, healthy looking skin and whilst I can't promise to offer you a complexion that resembles Zoella's, I can offer you some tips and recommendations to help you on your way. From creams to highlighters, there are plenty of products out there that claim to aid you in your efforts to brighter skin but I've chosen some of my favourites to share with you all today. 

To start your morning, use Soap & Glory's Face Massage Mini Mitt. You can either use it on it's own or with a cleanser/face wash. I like to use it with my regular face scrub (Superdrug's Deep Action Daily Scrub). The instructions tell you to massage upwards in circular motions to help stimulate the skin and helps increase blood/oxygen flow to help your skin look brighter.

The next step in my routine is to use the Origins Ginzing Energy Boosting Moisturiser as well as the Origins Ginzing Eye Cream which claims to brighten and de-puff. The moisturiser is lovely - it smells so good and feels really refreshing on the skin. Again, massage into the skin in circular motions. The eye cream, well, I can't talk highly enough about it! You can see results as soon as you put it on and its pearlescent quality means it works a treat if you have dark circles under your eyes (i.e me, always.) You can read my full review of it here.

Makeup-wise, the B. Illuminating Serum is amazing for brightening up your complexion. If that's the sole purpose for using it, put it on without any foundation and it'll give you a lovely looking healthy glow. If you can't part with your foundation, use the Illuminating Serum as a base and work your foundation over the top which will still give you a glow, just more subtle.

If you want to go one step further in brightening your eyes, a little white eyeliner in the corners of your eyes or along your waterline helps to brighten their appearance. I use the Rimmel Soft Kohl Eye Liner because it is just that, soft. So it's good to use on your eye where the skin is a bit more fragile.

What are your favourite products to help brighten your complexion?

Review: Beauty UK Baked Blush 'Halo'

When you're having a good skin day, especially in summer, a good blusher can be the icing on top of a very lovely looking cake (i.e your face.) I'm sorry, that was terrible. Your face looks nothing like a cake. But the point is that the Baked Blush from Beauty UK is perfect for the summer months and lately it's been my go-to beauty staple for when the sun is shining.

Beauty UK claim that this blusher captures 'sun-baked summer bliss' and 'healthy, holiday-glow skin'. I can vouch for all of these claims. It's shimmery enough to add a lovely highlight but not too shimmery so that your face looks like a disco ball. One sweep over the product with your blusher brush is enough to pick up (probably more than enough) product. I always dab my brush on the back of my hand just to get rid of any excess and then sweep across my cheekbones. It gives a lovely, healthy pink colour and highlights in a subtle but noticable way. I've had a few compliments about how healthy my complexion looks when I've been wearing this product and I never get compliments on my complexion.

The only thing I don't like is the packaging. It's so big and bulky for a product that takes up hardly any of the space inside. Plus it's a cardboard, magnetic box so it never feels secure in my makeup bag. If I was travelling long-haul with it I'd probably tie an elastic band around it just to keep it together. But on the plus side it does come with a mirror. Handy.

It only costs £3.99 so it's a complete steal. You can get it from the Beauty UK website and it comes in four different shades. It used to be sold in Superdrug but they're no longer available to buy on the website but it might be worth popping into a shop if you're out and about to see if they stock it!

What's your favourite highlighting blusher?

Bourjois Beauty'full Dark Kol Mascara

Sadly, my beloved Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes Mascara has passed the three month mark and although it's still usable, it's starting to get a little bit dry and flakey. So it was time to hunt down another and I fancied trying something new. The only mascara I've tried from Bourjois in the past was terrible. It was in a purple tube and had a brush that bent outwards so it was near impossible to use. I'd tell you the name but I can't find it online anywhere (probably for the best!) So for a while I was put off trying any of their eye makeup but the Dark Kohl mascara intrigued me.

With the promise of more volume and a dark colour, I was lured in. I'll be honest, I was in two minds about the shape of the brush,  I didn't think it was something I was going to get along with but in the end I decided I'd give it a go. And I actually really like it. I generally lean more towards plastic in the bristle vs. plastic brush debate anyway and if I didn't like it I could always pass it on to my mum.

The only promise this mascara doesn't fulfil is the volumising part. With the right technique I tend to get a lot of volume out of a mascara anyway, even if it doesn't claim to be volumising. But there's only so much you can do with a brush of this size and shape. That being said, it is brilliant at getting the tiny lashes in the corner and also brilliant at coating your bottom lashes. I'd say for lengthening, it's spot on and with a couple of layers you can build up the volume slightly but there are other mascaras out there that do a better job.

My one bugbear with this mascara is the mass of product that collects at the end of the brush, you can see it in the picture above. I have to wipe it off because, let's be honest, I can only just manage to get the mascara on my lashes at the best of times. If I start going in with all that mascara formula on the end, you know I'm going to end up with the post-mascara sneeze look.

And still, nothing beats my Tarte love. 

What do you think of the mascaras that Bourjois have to offer? You can buy this mascara for £7.99.

Tom Ford Matte Lipstick in Pussycat

Guys, it's love. Seriously. Where has Tom Ford been all my life? Trying to find the perfect 'my lips but better' colour has proven quite the struggle but I think I've narrowed it down to a dusty rose shade. Anything too light and it washes me out, anything too dark and I look like a vampire. But the point is, this TF matte lipstick in Pussycat is the one.

My efforts to find my perfect lipstick have tripled in the weeks leading up to graduation. I wanted something pretty that would last all day too and the highstreet options just weren't cutting it. Graduation was also how I justified spending so much money on it. A graduation gift to myself, if you will.

The first time I tried it my lips ended up a bit dry afterwards but I think with the right prep than in should be fine. I'll be using my Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub beforehand and I'll also keep a tin of Cocoa Vaseline on me just in case. Lasting power was spot on. I only applied one layer but it lasted a good few hours, even through eating and drinking. I was really impressed with it. And for the price I'd expect nothing less.

I'll also be using it alongside my trusty lipcote for extra lasting power.

Have you tried any of the lipsticks Tom Ford has to offer? What did you think?

American Beauty: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

I do love a good blusher and one that claims to be long-wearing, especially in the warmer weather, certainly fits the bill for a good summer makeup staple. 

Tarte claim that Amazonian Clay has all kinds of skin benefits; nourishing, hydrating and oil minimising so whatever skin type you are (supposedly), Tarte have you covered. Another bonus is that it's free from parabens too so if you're concerned about what goes into your beauty products, there is no need to worry.

I wear mine in Natural Beauty and I absolutely love it. It also has the Mum Stamp of Approval (I brought my mum one home and she loves it too.) I'm not convinced the lasting power stands the 12-hour test but it lasts long enough to get me through a day so I don't have any complaints in that area. You have to be quite careful as it's incredibly pigmented so a gentle hand with your blusher brush is a must. If you're curious, I use the Avon brush (£4) which is lovely and soft.

The great thing is that you can now buy these in the UK from QVC for £25. If you're in the states, you can get in from Sephora for $28. There are less shades available in the UK but there is still quite a good selection.

If you want to see some swatches, Essie Button did a lovely post at the beginning of last year using about eight of the shades.

Have you tried these products? What did you think?

I've been resisting the urge to mention packaging in any posts recently but I couldn't help it with this one - how pretty is it!? The safari/jungle-esque print makes it stand out from any other blushers I own. The outer packaging also reflects the colour of the blush which makes for easy grabbing on busy mornings. Well done, Tarte. I'm impressed.