Spring Makeup Look

I love Spring makeup. I love having a lighter base, I love looking more glowy and radiant.

BUT, skincare is just as important when trying to achieve a dewy, glowy makeup look.

And, as much as I love A/W makeup, by the time Spring comes around, I am SO ready for a switch up of my makeup bag.

The primer I am using at the minute is the Barry M Flawless Correcting Primer. This is super hydrating, hides any redness and really evens my skin tone. My skin is left feeling dry and dull after the colder months, so I am up for anything that will help hydrate and make it so much easier to apply my makeup.

The foundation that I am obsessing over right now and is perfect for this time of year, is the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear foundation and it goes beautifully with the L’Oreal primer! I am also loving the It Cosmetics CC Cream – it is so god damn good. Super hydrating, glowy, and insane coverage, what more do you want?

To cover any blemishes,  I use the NARS Soft Matte Concealer. This is nowhere near as matte as it sounds, and I am so glad I decided to give this a try. It has the perfect formula and the right amount of coverage to cover blemishes or any redness that I’ve got going on (most of the time). And again, not too heavy on the skin. I use this with a damp beauty blender so that it doesn’t cling to any dry areas, or I find it blends really well with fingers.

Under my eyes, I use the Maybelline Eraser Eye Brightener. This is super light on the skin, and is the only product I have found that doesn’t crease under my eyes! It has a very sheer amount of coverage but really does brighten. It’s very similar to the YSL Touché Eclat, so if you’re looking for a good dupe for that…

I have a new favourite bronzer. I put down my beloved Benefit Hoola, and I picked up the NARS Laguna Bronzer in Rome in January and I have used it everyday since. It blends like an absolute dream and is the perfect shade for me. It doesn’t look muddy or too warm toned. I LOVE IT. I wish I had gotten this sooner.

For blush and highlight, I have been using the Tanya Burr Cosmetics Peonies Please Blush/Highlighter. This is the perfect product for Spring and is crazyyyy pigmented – you need to try it!

For brows, I use my trusty Fleur De Force x Eylure Brow Define Pencil in the shade medium. This is all I use on my brows these days. Doesn’t smudge, and stays in place all day!

For eyeshadow, I have been using the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette. You can create so many different looks with this palette. You honestly can’t go wrong.

Tanya Burr Selfie Lash is my new favourite mascara. I am so fussy with mascara’s, but I’d heard so many great things about it and I saw it was on offer in Superdrug so I had to give it ago. Let’s just say, I’m going back to buy a load more while they’re on offer. It is insanely good – very similar to the YSL Babydoll mascara.

The cold Winter months have absolutely ruined my lips. They are so dry and cracked that all I have been putting on them at the minute is Carmex (preferably the Mint one) and it seems to be working a treat. I can’t wait to be able to wear lipstick again!

Anybody else completely ready for Spring and Summer? Winter is my absolute FAVE, but I am so ready for a bit of sunshine.

What your go-to Spring makeup picks?

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation

Throw the words natural, radiant, and longwear together for a foundation and I will be alllllll over it.

When I saw that NARS had released they’re new foundation, I just couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

I like to give foundations a proper road test before reviewing them and completely making my mind up on them, so that I get a chance to use them on good-skin days, bad-skin days, put a paper-bag over my head kinda days. I have such complex skin that I never know what I’m going to wake up with. Some days I’m super oily and other days my skin is flaky dry? I know, nightmare.

Anyway. I got this when I was in Brighton for the day, so I headed straight to Space NK to pick one up. I’m usually the shade Deauville in NARS foundations, unless I have a bit of a tan.

Packaging. I just love NARS packaging. They look so classic and chic, and feel really luxurious without completely breaking the bank. I love how all of their foundations have completely different bottles and packaging. The natural radiant longwear foundation is in a very sleek, tall glass bottle (super pretty) and it comes with a pump – yaaaaasssss.

The formula. When I first think of ‘radiant’, I initially think of super dewy, glowy finishes, however this one was slightly different. I imagined it to be quite oily, and that I would probably have to powder in my t-zone, but it absorbs into the skin straight away. It doesn’t look or feel heavy on the skin at all. It has more of a satin finish on the skin and gives a very natural, radiant, lit-from-within look. This is definitely a full-coverage foundation. I was so surprised at how small the pumps of product are, but one or two pumps is more than enough – a little goes a very long way.

It does exactly as it promises. It gives natural, radiant looking skin and it lasts all day!

This works wonderfully on my skin, no matter how oily or dry it is!

This is the perfect foundation to transition you from Winter to Spring.

I would definitely recommend this!

Buy it here!

June and July Faves

So, seeing as I missed June faves time, I thought I would combine them with my July faves. This months favourites is a right mixed bag and quite a lengthy one so apologies in advance!

There are two concealers that I have been obsessed with lately and have used them every time I have worn makeup. One high-end, one drugstore. The first one is the much loved and talked about, NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer. If you’ve been following my blog for a while now, you’ll know that I’m not crazy about matte products, especially for my skin. I much prefer a glowy, dewy kinda look, so I was put off of this product for a while. But after checking it out for myself in store, and being on the hunt for a new concealer, I thought I’d give it a go. I honestly don’t know what I used before this? It’s THE best concealer I have tried to date. Do not be scared off by the name of it, it is nowhere near as matte as it is made out to be – but more of a velvety kinda finish, which I love. The coverage of this product is insanely good, it is super high coverage but doesn’t feel heavy or cakey in the slightest. It covers up everyyyyyything. I use this to cover any redness, or blemishes and to try and hide the darkness under my eyes to even out my skin tone a bit. It may look like there isn’t much product, but I have used this almost everyday and I’ve barely made a dent! This will last such a long time and I will most definitely be repurchasing!

The second concealer is the Rimmel Match Perfection Illuminating concealer. I use this after I have gone in with the NARS one and I use this to brighten under my eyes, and as kind of a highlighter I guess. I use it the same way I would use the YSL Touché Eclat as it has very similar qualities to that. I tend to apply this after I have done the rest of my makeup, particularly my eye makeup as it tidies and sharpens it up a bit, making sure there is no fall-out from the shadows, and I find it really enhances the rest of the look. As much as I love the Touché Eclat, I tend to reach for this one a little bit more as it has that bit of extra coverage! I need to buy a back up of this asap!

My foundation favourite this month, is something I didn’t expect to like as much as I do and I’m not sure why. I think because most of my favourite foundations are high-end, and this one is very affordable, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! This is the Milani Conceal and Perfect 2-in-1 foundation in the shade 02. I ordered this online and just guessed my shade and luckily it is the perfect shade for me during the summer. The coverage of this foundation is absolutely incredible, and gives the most natural looking finish. I apply this using my Real Techniques Stippling Brush and find that this gives the best finish. This is very similar to the Clinique 2-in-1 beyond perfection foundation, so if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative then I would definitely recommend this! I have used this most days throughout June and July, and when I haven’t used it on its own, I have mixed it with other products to give better coverage. I cannot fault this product at all!

Something I’ve never really been into before is brown eyeliner. Not sure why, I just usually reach for black, but when I was going through my makeup stash, I realised I was lacking a brown eyeliner so I went and picked one up! I can’t believe I have never used this before! The one I picked up was the Bourjois Kohl and Contour, and I apply it roughly to my top lash line, smoke it out a bit using my Zoeva Smudger Brush, pop on my mascara and I’m good to go! It is so much softer than black which can sometimes look a bit too harsh, and this is perfect when you haven’t really got time for eyeshadow or just can’t be bothered and is something just a bit different! I have been wearing this non-stop for about 3 weeks and I’m still loving it!

The Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream is something I have spoke about before so I won’t go on too much. But this is the most amazing moisturiser everrrrr. I have tried and tested so many in the past because I have been blessed with the most awkward skin, and I can’t find one better than this. My skin is oily, yet dehydrated so most moisturisers tend to just sink into my skin straight away and within five minutes, it’s back to how it was before. But this moisturiser keeps my skin feeling amazing all day. If I’m having a makeup free day, and I put this on in the morning, by the time I come to do my evening skincare routine, my skin still feels soft and hydrated. Honestly, just go buy it. I’m gonna buy the supersize version as backup for when I run out of this one! They also do an SPF version too!

Last month, the lovely people over at Palmer’s ever so kindly sent me a few products from the new coconut oil range. I love body oils, so was suuuuper excited to try this one out. And ohmygoodness!!!! 1) it smells like summer in a bottle?! 2) it leaves your skin feeling insanely soft and hydrated, but not at all sticky! WIN. This will definitely be coming on holiday with me!

I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned this product in a blog post before, and I have no idea why because I literally use it every single day. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in the shade Luminous Light is the only powder I will use to set my face. This sets makeup amazingly, and gives the most gorgeous glow. I was a bit hesitant at first because from first glance, it does look a bit like a highlighter but it just makes your skin looking incredible! I have used this every day for about a year now, and although I have hit pan, there is so much product left! I know Hourglass products are pricey, but this one is definitely worth the slightly hefty price tag!

Now, an actual highlighter. People have raved about MAC highlighters for years, but only recently have I tried one. I picked up MAC’s Mineralise Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle. It gives such a lovely glow, and is the perfect colour for my skin tone! And the pan is absolutely huge, I have no idea how I’m ever going to get through it all!

That’s all for this favourites post! I hope you enjoyed! Don’t forget to like and follow my blog!

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Links and prices below!

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer

Rimmel Match Perfection Illuminating Concealer

Milani Conceal & Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation

Bourjois Kohl and Contour Eyeliner

Palmers Coconut Oil Body Oil

Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream

Hourglass Ambient Light Powder in Luminous Light

MAC Mineralise Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle

Disclaimer:
Some of these products may have been sent to me by a brand or PR company, however all opinions are my own and I only talk about products I genuinely use and love.

Beauty Haul!

I have missed a good ol’ haul!

I have taken some much needed time away from blogging, for the simple reason that life just got in the way. I had so much going on, mixed with uni deadlines, that unfortunately blogging just had to take a bit of a backseat. But I am back and I am so ready to get back into the blogging game, cos boy have I missed it!

Recently, I made a couple of online orders so I thought I would share with you, the bits and pieces that I got.

Firstly, I visited feelunique.com, which is a very dangerous place for my bank account… They do absolutely EVERYTHING! I go on there to make a repurchase and end up filling my online basket to the brim!

I am really into sheet masks at the minute, so when I saw that Origins had released a wide range of Flower Fusion sheet masks, I had to get some! I love Origins as a brand as they are so organic and natural in terms of the ingredients they use in their products and everything I’ve tried works incredibly! I got four of the sheet masks; the Jasmine, that targets softening, Lavender for soothing, Violet for nourishing and Rose for hydrating. I haven’t tried these out yet, but I am so excited to use them and will no doubt order the rest of the range!

The next thing is also from Origins and this is the Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser. I have been using this product for well over a year now, and it is something I will continue to buy and buy again. It is incredible. I have such sensitive skin and this seems to be the only exfoliator than doesn’t react badly with my skin. It leaves my skin feeling so smooth and refreshed, and I can really tell the difference when I haven’t used it for a day or two! This is a must-have for my daily skincare routine and I am never without a back-up in my skincare stash!

Recently, I have been ditching the foundation and have found myself opting for tinted moisturisers, and BB creams instead. I’m not entirely sure why, but my skin just seems to be working a lot better with a more lightweight base and I am loving it. There are two that I picked up. The first is the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in the shade Alaska. After hearing and reading many mixed reviews on this product, I decided to just give it a try as I have really enjoyed every other NARS product that I own.

The second BB cream is the Clarins Skin Perfecting Cream in the shade 00 Fair. It has an SPF of 25, which is super useful now that we are well into Spring and fast approaching Summer. I have used this a few times and so far, I am absolutely loving it. It gives just enough coverage, it isn’t too sheer, and gives a light and even base and is definitely buildable. Perfect for this time of year.

Something else I picked up from Clarins was the Tonic Body Treatment Oil. After spending a weekend at Hoar Cross Hall, I decided that I needed to invest in a body oil, (or two)… My skin tends to really dry up during the summer and sometimes, moisturising just isn’t enough for me. So, I thought a body oil that I can apply after bathing/showering, or that I can apply to my bath water would do just the trick. And, so far, so good. Plus, it leaves my skin smelling insane!

The second body oil I picked up (because one clearly just wasn’t enough) was also from Hoar Cross Hall. We went to Hoar Cross Hall for a hen-weekend, and my aunt, and a few other the other girls had told me about this and after smelling it in the product shop, I couldn’t not buy it. This is the Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil. This has quite a sweet scent and I absolutely love it. It is the perfect scent for this time of year and leaves my skin feeling incredible. I think it is safe to say that I am now well and truly obsessed with body oils. They just work wonders! Next on my list is the Elemis Fortitude Bath and Shower Elixir *swoons*.

The final few products I picked up from Debenhams. I picked up a couple of things that I had been eyeing up for a while. The first thing was the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. I have only heard positive things about this mascara and was actually surprised that I hadn’t bought it before now. I haven’t tried this out yet, but I am super excited to use it!

The next thing is the Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow palette. I have been lusting over this palette for so long now that I just couldn’t resist it any longer. Too Faced are quite possibly my favourite brand when it comes to eyeshadows so I knew that this wouldn’t disappoint. I have been using this every day since I got it. The colours are gorgeous and are prefect for the transition into Spring and Summer. As with all Too Faced eyeshadows, all the shades are crazy pigmented and blend soooo easily! LOVE.

The final product is again, from Too Faced and this is the Sweet Peach Glow palette. I am ALLLL about that glowy, dewy skin at the minute so when I saw this, I immediately knew that I needed it and it was just what I needed to last me through the warmer months. I have recently gotten a lot more into blush and the blush shade in this palette is stunning and gives that perfect pop of colour. I have been using this palette every day and I am sure I will continue to do so throughout the rest of Spring and Summer!

That is all for this blog post! I hope you enjoyed it, don’t forget to like and follow! I am off to Brighton for a few days this week for mine and Jake’s 5-year anniversary so I will be taking lots of photos and writing a few posts on my trip so keep your eyes peeled for those!

I am also using Instagram Stories a lot more, and will be using is whilst in Brighton so be sure to follow me!

Love, Meg x

PS. It is SOOOO good to be back blogging again, eeeeeek.

Links and prices below;

Origins Flower Fusion Sheet Masks £5

Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser £15.50

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint £30

Clarins BB Skin Perfecting Cream £30

Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil £40

Elemis Frangipani Monoi Body Oil £35

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara £19

Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Palette £39

Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow Palette £34

COLLAB: High-End, Mid-Year Faves

Hello lovelies, I hope you’re all enjoying your Summer so far! What has everyone been up to?

So, this week’s post is going to be slightly different as it is a collaboration with the lovely Lauren (check out her blog here). I am super excited as this is my first blogging collaboration! This week is going to be part one of our mid-year favourites, so we are going to be chatting you through the high-end bits and pieces that we have been loving so far this year, and next time, will be our drugstore faves.

My first favourite is NARS Sheer Glow. I have tried so many different foundations and I always, always, always come back to this one. It just works absolutely perfectly for me. It blends beautifully, it gives a medium to full coverage, giving you that gorgeous ‘glow from within’ look. It lasts all day, doesn’t crease or transfer and applies really well with fingers, a brush, or a beauty blender. Even though it does give a very dewy, glowy look, it is still perfect for all year round and is certainly something I could not be without.

 

 

The Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm is something that I use every single day. I cannot even explain how good this product is. A lot of people say to me, “I can’t believe that you spend that much on something that just takes your makeup off!”. But, I honestly believe that you can’t put a price on your skincare routine and taking care of my skin is super important to me. This doesn’t just remove my makeup, but it cleanses my skin and plays a really crucial part in my skincare routine. I have been using this product for almost a year now and I have tried many other cleansing oils and makeup removing products but nothing else seems to compare or does the job just as good. I don’t suffer from break-outs that often, my skin is fairly clear and I genuinely think that this product has a lot to do with that. It is definitely worth the price tag!

Now, onto Lauren’s faves…

I have used this bronzer by Benefit every day since I purchased it. Admittedly, I purchased it very recently, but I couldn’t not include it in my yearly beauty favourites. I’ve tried a lot of bronzers and contour kits etc etc but I’ve never come across one as easy to blend as this! For someone who is rubbish at all things contouring, it’s perfect. It is a little pricey for just a little box of bronzer (£23.50) but personally I think it’s worth it. I’m yet to hit pan and I get a lot of use out of it!

I think almost every single blogger in the blogosphere has an opinion on Becca x Jaclyn Hill’s cult Champagne Pop highlighter. Personally, I love it – I’ve used it almost every day since purchasing it and I am so upset to say that I have hit pan. This won’t be expensive to replace once it runs out (£32) but I 100% will because I couldn’t live without it! It looks extremely orangey in photos (and, admittedly in real life) but it gives off the most amazing glow. I like to use a second highlighter over the top to intensify the glow, but you definitely don’t need to. I just like to stop traffic with my highlight.

That is all for our mid-year high-end faves. I hope you enjoyed this post! Let us know what high-end products you couldn’t live without in the comments section and don’t forget to check out and follow Lauren’s blog! Keep your eyes peeled for our drugstore faves!

Don’t forget to like and follow!

Lauren’s links;

http://www.loulabellerose.com

https://twitter.com/loulabxlle

https://www.instagram.com/loulabxlle/?hl=en

Links and prices below;

NARS Sheer Glow £31

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm £59 (currently 15% off)

Benefit Hoola Bronzer £23.50

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop £32

March Favourites

It’s that time of month again where I ramble on and on about all of the things that I have been loving for the past month.

The first thing that I have been absolutely loving is NARS Sheer Glow. I have been using this foundation for such a long time, but it seems to have found its way to the back of my foundation draw in the midst of me trying out so many different ones. After sorting out my makeup collection, I found that I had the shade Santa Fe which I used all throughout last Summer, but my skin is slightly lighter this time of year, so I ordered another one in the shade Fiji. I completely forgot how much I loved this foundation. It has medium coverage, but could definitely be built up for a fuller looking complexion. This really brightens the skin, making it look more radiant and glowing.

My next favourite is the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. I use this in the shade 1 Fair and this is perfect for brightening the under eye area and covering those pesky dark circles! This blends in super easy and lasts all day unlike some other concealers. It also works great to highlight other areas of your face. I could not be without this product!

The next thing is a recent rediscovery and this is the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen. This is really pigmented and the colour stays all day, which I find is such a rarity in the world of liquid eyeliners. The shape of the pen makes it perfect for creating a cat-eye flick and makes it so simple and easy to do.

Another favourite is the Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder in the shade Vanilla. I find that powder is such a tricky thing to get right; too much and you look flat and cakey, not enough and you look oily and shiny. I have combination skin, so I have quite an oily T-Zone but I also have a few dry areas, so when I apply certain powders it does help control shine but it tends to cling to those dry patches. For a while now I have been on the hunt for the perfect lightweight powder and I think this is it! I would definitely recommend this product if you have the same problem as me. This powder makes your skin look more glowing and radiant as opposed to flat and cakey. I’ve heard that this a cheaper alternative to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders… I do have one on the way (oops!), so I will let you know my thoughts on this when I am able to compare the two together!

A skincare favourite is the Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser. I am in love with this product! It takes me a while to decide whether I really like a skincare product as it takes a while to really notice a difference. I try and use this scrub every day and if for some reason I forget, then I can really, really tell! It exfoliates and helps to smooth and brighten the skin, making it feel really refreshed! I really couldn’t go without this product; this has most definitely become a staple in my skincare routine!

A non-beauty favourite is a coat from Topshop. I saw it in the shop and I knew straight away that I just HAD to buy it. I am very aware that I already have more than enough coats but I just could not resist. It is perfect for this time of year as it isn’t too cold, but it isn’t quite warm enough to go out without a coat. It is perfect for Spring and seeing as though I live in Britain, I thought that buying a Rain Mac would be a pretty sensible investment. I love it that much, that I bought it in blue and yellow.

That is all for this month’s favourites! I hope you liked this post, and let me know what you have been loving this month!

As you may have noticed, I have changed the layout and background of the photos for my blog posts, and I would really love your opinion on this; whether you like the new look, or if you prefer the older one, or if you have any other suggestions!

Also, I am considering starting up a YouTube channel, I’d love it if you could give me your thoughts on this!

Don’t forget to like and follow!

Thanks for reading!

Love, Meg x

Links and prices below;

NARS Sheer Glow £31

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.19

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen £6.99

Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder £8.99

Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleaner £18.50

Topshop Rain Mac £55

 

 

Glamour Beauty Festival 2016

Yesterday, me and my friends ventured to London for the Glamour Beauty Festival. It definitely made the 5am start worthwhile!

Our tickets gave us entry to the Saturday morning slot (10am-1:30pm) and booked to go to the Mary Greenwell and Fearne Cotton talk. I chose this talk because I knew that Mary had worked with so many famous faces and makeup is something that I am passionate about so I was really intrigued to hear what she had to say about the industry!

We caught the train from Derby station at 7am and at arrived at St. Pancreas at around half past eight. And, eventually, after getting on the wrong tube and having to completely redirect, we arrived at the Saatchi Gallery in Sloane Square; I don’t quite know how we made it on time!

As we entered the gallery, we were welcomed by so many lovely members of staff who gave us a map of where everything was (YES, there was that much going on, that you needed a map!). Naturally, I made my way up to the makeup and skin care sections first where I was greeted by all things Elizabeth Arden, Liz Earle, NARS and Laura Mercier – heaven, right? We had a good look around and received some very good advice from the professionals.

There was a wall full of previous Glamour covers and a whole wall covered with quotes from so many iconic people!

 

We made our way over to the hair section, where all of us were treated to a complimentary hair do at the Redken Done/Undone Bar. Redken were also handing out free samples of hair products, I received the Diamond Oil and the Multi-Benefit Treatment – thanks Redken!

The talk with Mary Greenwell and Fearne Cotton was so fascinating and inspiring. I am such a big fan of Fearne, and was so intrigued to hear more about Mary’s life and career as a makeup artist. It was so inspiring to hear how much of an important part makeup and beauty has played throughout her life and how she got to where she is now. It was amazing to see some of the people that she had worked with too!

Not to forget the Chandon Bar where over 18s could enjoy a free glass of bubbly and of course, the Glamour Shop. Which, I am really kicking myself about for not buying the mug, the t-shirt, or any of the goodie bags that were for sale – not that I didn’t already have enough with my free goodie bag! But, if anyone knows if these are still available to purchase, let me know!

The Goodie Bag was such an amazing bonus, with products worth well over £150! There were some incredible items in this bag, including my beloved Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish! Here are the items that were included in my goodie bag;

• Balance Me Congested Skin Serum
• Benefit Roller Lash Mascara (travel size)
• GHD Straight and Smooth Spray
• Illamasqua Nail Polish
• Rimmel Love Glitter Nail Lacquer
• Sally Hanson Hard as Nails
• Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, with Muslin Cloth
• Laura Mercier Deluxe Size Lip Glacé in Pink Pop
• Redken Fashion Work 1 2 Hair Spray
• Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream – Intensive Moisturising Hand Treatment
• NARS Lip Gloss in Gold Digger
• Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb
• Lancôme Bi-Facil
• OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo and Conditioner

I am such a big fan of Glamour Magazine and the editor, Jo Elvin, who I did see but didn’t actually get chance to meet or speak to! However, I had so much fun and would most definitely go again! I just hope next time (if there is a next time), they offer full day tickets, or even a weekend pass because I would have loved to attend all of the talks and it is SO hard to choose just one!

Thanks, Glamour, I had a brilliant time!

 

 

Everyday Makeup Routine

Today, I am going to be talking you through the makeup look that I have been loving throughout the months of Winter.

Firstly, I use the L’Oreal Mattifying Primer. I find it so hard to find a primer that actually does the job properly, but this definitely does! This primer really helps to keep my makeup in place all day and helps control oil and shine.

The foundations that I have been loving are NARS Sheer Glow in the shade Fiji, and Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B20. Both of these foundations give the complexion a very fresh, glowy finish which I think is really important at this time of year as it so easy for skin to look dry. NARS Sheer Glow has a bit of a higher coverage than the Vitalumiere Aqua, so the foundation that I use depends on my plans for that day. To apply my foundation, I use the Zoeva 104 Buffer brush. This brush is flat and applies and blends foundation perfectly, buffing it in until there are no lines or creases. For today, I am going to be using the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua.

Next, I use my much loved Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in the shade Fair 1 under my eyes to cover up any dark circles and to make me look slightly more awake. I use the same concealer in a slightly darker shade, Medium 3 to cover any redness and blemishes that I may have. I use my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge to blend in my concealer, I find that this just blends my concealer in that bit better than a brush and gives it a nicer finish.

Next, I use the MAC Studio Fix Powder to set my concealer under my eyes and on my t-zone. To apply this, I use the Real Techniques Bold Metals Brush 100. I absolutely love this powder, it keeps my makeup in place all day and really helps to control oil and shine. I also really love this brush, it is so soft and is perfect for applying powder.

To contour, I use the Clinique Contour Chubby Stick. I apply this to the hollows of my cheeks, either side of my nose and along my hairline. I then blend it in with a beauty blender and this just gives a bit more depth and definition to my face. I then use Benefit’s Hoola Bronzer. I go over all of the places that I have contoured to help set it and to add even more definition to my cheekbones. I do this with me Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek brush.

I then use my Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat in the shade 01 to highlight my face. I apply this to the tops of my cheeks, down the centre of nose and on the middle of my forehead. I also blend this in using a beauty blender, and this just makes my skin look a bit more awake and glowy, without it looking oily and shiny.

For my eyebrows, I use my Soap and Glory Archery Pencil in the shade Brown & Out. This is great for creating hair-like strokes and makes eyebrows look a lot more natural. I then use the Maybelline Brow Drama in the shade medium brown to help set and keep my eyebrows in place.

Nine times out of ten, I will be wearing gold eye shadow. I usually use Urban Decay’s Half Baked, but I have also made a fairly new discovery and this is Mac’s eye shadow in Amber Lights. I have SO many gold eye shadow shades but I just could not resist this one! It is quite a dark, rusty golden shade with hints of shimmer running through it, but nothing too heavy. There is no fall out and it blends really well, I apply this using my Zoeva 234 Luxe Smoky Shader brush as it makes it really easy to pack the eye shadow on. This looks lovely on it’s own, but I usually pair it with Smog from the original NAKED palette. I apply this into the crease using my Zoeva 231 Luxe Petite Crease brush and this just adds a bit more definition to the eyes. I then take the Zoeva 228 Luxe Crease brush to blend it altogether to get rid of any harsh lines.

Now, this next bit usually depends on how late I am running in the morning! This is the cat-eye flick. I love a good cat-eye, and to do this, I use the L’Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim. I start from the inner corner of my eyes and work my way outwards and flick my eyeliner the opposite way to draw on my flick and join it up with the rest of my eyeliner. I love this eyeliner because it is super thin and is great for precision!

One of the (many) mascaras that I have been using recently, is the Yves Saint Laurent Babydoll mascara. I absolutely adore this product! It is a thin, plastic brush which makes it perfect for grabbing every lash and really gives you that false lash effect. Plus, the packaging is beautiful!

Now, for lips. This is the one thing that changes on a daily basis, it just depends on my mood that day. The lipsticks that I have been reaching for the most recently, is Persistence by Mac and Glastonberry by Charlotte Tilbury.

And those are all of the products that I use pretty much every day! I hope you enjoyed this post, and let me know what products you use every day!

Links and prices below;

L’Oreal Infallible Mattifying Primer £7.99

NARS Sheer Glow £31

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua £33

Zoeva 104 Buffer Brush €16.80

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.19

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge £5.99

MAC Studio Fix Powder £22

Real Techniques 100 Bold Metals Brush £25, now £20

Clinique Contour Chubby Stick £19

Benefit Hoola Bronzer £23.50

Zoeva 127 Luxe Sheer Cheek €14.80

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat £25

Soap and Glory Archery £10

MAC Amber Lights Eyeshadow £13

Zoeva 224 Luxe Smoky Shader €8.80

Urban Decay NAKED Palette £38.50

Zoeva 231 Luxe Petite Crease €8.80

Zoeva 228 Luxe Crease €8.80

L’Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim £6.99

Yves Saint Laurent Babydoll Mascara £25

Mac Persistence £15.50

Charlotte Tilbury Glastonberry £23

 

 

 

 

L’Oreal Infallible Foundation

As I said in a previous post, the two foundations that I use on a daily basis are NARS Sheer Glow and NARS All Day Luminous Weightless. I love both of these products and they both suit my skin type, which is combination. I use Sheer Glow on the days where my skin is a bit drier, such as this time of year, as my skin tends to dry up as it gets colder. All Day Luminous Weightless is better when my skin is a bit oilier. These cost £31, and £32 and I have been trying to find a cheaper alternative for a while now, for days when I don’t need a lot of makeup or if I’m only going to be out for an hour or so.

This doesn’t mean I am going to be neglecting my NARS’ foundations!

I have finally found it…

This is the L’Oreal 24H Infallible Stay Fresh Foundation. I bought this in the shade 200 (Golden Sand) and it suits my skin tone perfectly. This foundation lasts me all day and doesn’t transfer, which is a bonus! It is so easy to blend and is medium coverage, but could easily be built up for a fuller looking complexion which is what I tend to do. I only bought this two weeks ago, and I have worn it every single day since I bought it.

It gives a dewy, satin finish and really brightens and hydrates the skin which is really important, especially during cold, winter months. It has a pump already attached which is massive plus! I also find that one pump is enough to cover the whole of my face, however if I want more of a fuller coverage then I tend to use two. Here is how much one pump distributes, which I feel is enough for a medium coverage look.

I alternate between two foundations brushes, however they both do the job perfectly. These are the Expert Face Brush by Real Techniques and the Zoeva 102 Silk Finish, which clearly need cleaning!

It is very similar to NARS Sheer Glow in terms of formula and finish, so this is perfect if you want something like Sheer Glow but can’t afford the £31 or if you just can’t justify spending that amount of money on foundation. This only costs £9.99 so is a perfect alternative.

If you’re looking for a new foundation, I would highly recommend this one and I will most definitely be repurchasing!

NARS: All Day Luminous Weightless foundation VS Sheer Glow!

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless foundation VS NARS Sheer Glow.

So, the question on everybody’s lips is which of these two foundations they should buy. But honestly, it is completely and utterly down to the skin type of each individual person.

Some people have dry skin, some people have oily skin and others have a combination of the two. I have combination skin so I am quite lucky in the sense that I can use both of these products, however it does depend on how my skin is on the day. The shade that I use in both foundations is Santa Fe.

I am going to talk you through both of these foundations and the different qualities that they have and which one is most likely to suit your skin type.

NARS Sheer Glow offers a variety of different shades. Each shade offers different pigmentation, some of them having more yellow undertones and others having more pink undertones. This makes it easier for people to decide which shade would best suit them.

Sheer Glow is aimed at people with normal to dry skin. This product is also very moisturising when it is applied, leaving the skin feel healthy and hydrated. This helps with the application of the foundation, making it smoother and easier to blend, leaving the skin looking bright and radiant with a dewy, satin finish.

The coverage of Sheer Glow is medium to full and can definitely be built up for a fuller looking complexion without it seeming too thick or cakey. Also, a little goes a long way with this product.

Sheer Glow costs £31 for a 30ml bottle. The product is in a small, rounded, glossy glass bottle with a black lid that you just twist-on. The only downside is that this foundation does not come with a pump which makes it a lot harder to distribute to makeup brushes. However, pumps are available to purchase for just £3. Even though you are able to purchase a pump, the lid of Sheer Glow will no longer fit whilst the pump is attached.

Now, onto the All Day Luminous Weightless foundation.

This foundation also has the same shades as Sheer Glow and is also very highly pigmented. The pigments include gold and green tones which help give the luminous effect and counteracts any redness of the skin.

This foundation is best suited for people with an oily complexion. When this product is applied to dry skin or dry patches, the foundation tends to stick and cling to these areas, making the skin appear patchy and flaky. The consistency of the All Day Luminous Weightless foundation is rather watery, therefore needs to be shaken before every use in order to prevent the formula from separating.

All Day Luminous Weightless is quite hard to blend into the skin as it tends to set and dry quite quickly, meaning that you need to work and blend it into the skin at a rather fast pace.
When the foundation has been applied to the skin, it gives the complexion a matte finish which does make the skin look particularly dull in comparison to Sheer Glow, however does look more natural.

This product is also 30ml, costing £32. This foundation comes in a tall, thin bottle with a frosted glass finish and does include a pump, unlike Sheer Glow.

Neither of these products come cheap, however I definitely think they are worth the money and they do go along way. The foundation that you buy does depend on what type of skin you have.

I have combination skin; therefore, I am able to use both of these products. However, I do prefer Sheer Glow overall as it gives my skin a fuller looking complexion and makes it look a lot more glowing. Although if my skin is feeling a little oilier than usual, I will use All Day Luminous Weightless.

I also find that All Day Luminous Weightless is a lot easier to apply with the hands and does give it a better finish, whereas Sheer Glow is a lot better when applied with a brush.

I prefer Sheer Glow as a product, however the presentation and the packaging of All Day Luminous Weightless looks a lot more elegant, especially as a pump is included.

Let me know which one you’ve been loving!

You can buy both of these products from;

http://narscosmetics.co.uk
http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk
http://www.johnlewis.com
http://uk.spacenk.com