CURRENT EVERYDAY MAKEUP ROUTINE: STEP-BY-STEP

Hello everyone! It has been a good few months since i last shared my everyday makeup, which of course changes ever so slightly from month to month. That being said i thought it was time for an updated version, which i also thought i would share not only the products that i am currently using but also a step-by-step run down of the order i apply the products and so on...

1. mua pro base primer oil

So first things first is primer and if you have read my posts for a while, then you will already know i find that facial oils/primer oils work best for my skin personally and creates the perfect base for any other product applied on top. I have been using this particular one from MUA for a good amount of this year already, pretty much every single day so i would say that i like this product. It gives me the perfect base for makeup as i mentioned, it is super hydrating and it is a bargain product costing just £4.

2. maybelline fit me matte + poreless foundation

After primer comes foundation and i am back to reaching for my all time favourite foundation on an everyday basis, i honestly think this foundation will take some topping for me. I just love how it applies, the colour shade 220 is perfect for me, it wears so well and still looks pretty much the same towards the end of the day. I personally always like to apply my foundation by dotting some product all over my face before going in to blend it out, using a damp beauty blender/sponge. Doing this just gives it a much more natural and flawless finish.

3. bareminerals invisible light powder duo

So when it comes to higher end makeup we all definitely have our favourites and bareMinerals products are up there for me, as i just find they work so well for me. This particular powder duo is a go-to for me, as it is super light/non cake-y once applied and it is super handy that is is a duo product. This particular powder has two different finishes, one side matte and the other glow, which allows you to either use the products separately or both together. I personally like to use the glow side of the compact in the centre of the face and then the matte side of the compact everywhere else, to keep my makeup in place.

4. anastasia beverly hills dipbrow + mac pro longwear brow gel

For brows i was using the Revolution Pro Precision brow pencil but i recently decided to switch things up and go back in with using my trust Dipbrow from ABH, which is another product i have loved for years now that gives you all weather proof brows. Along side this a product that i haven't switched up in well over a year, as i just keep buying the same one is the Pro Longwear brow gel by MAC and this product just keeps everything in place.

5. dose of colors baked browns palette + mua amplify mascara

So for eyes i like to keep things super natural and simple of everyday, as it is super quick and natural looking. This Dose of Colors Baked Browns eyeshadow palette is definitely my favourite eyeshadow palette in my collection and i use it pretty much every single day, especially the shade Outdoorsy which is the most beautiful warm peachy brown shade. For everyday makeup i just apply this particular shade, blend it out and then apply some mascara to my top lashes. I really like this particular MUA mascara and i have done for some time now, it separates, lengthens and gives volume to your lashes all in one.

6. mac extra dimension skinfinish

For highlighter at the moment i am back using for an old favourite of mine, which of course is the ever so famous Oh Darling shade. When it comes to highlight for me i definitely prefer a golden/bronze toned highlighter, as they just suit me better over something more pink toned. What i love about the Extra Dimension Skinfinishes from MAC is not only how pigmented and stunning they are, but also how finely milled/light-weight the formulas of the different shades are.

7. revolution bronzer reloaded

The final step for the face/base makeup is bronzer, which for me i love how it just warms up the face and gives some dimension to the face also. For the past month or so i have switched up what i have been using, swapping the higher end bronzer for a drugstore alternative. This particular bronzer is in the shade Long Weekend by Revolution, which not only warms the face up but also gives it a subtle "beach-like glow" at the same time making it the perfect product for the summer months.

8. mac lip liner pencil, mac matte lipstick + bareMinerals gloss

Finally we move on to lips, which of course is a nude lip combination. I have really been loving a glossy nude lip for this spring/summer, which has been one of two different combinations. This particular nude lip is a trio of the Oak lip liner pencil by MAC, Yash matte lipstick also by MAC and the Gen Nude Far Out lip gloss by bareMinerals. These three particular products all together create the perfect beige-nude lip with a hint of pink.

Catch up on my new-in travel beauty post: here

xo.

EVERYDAY MAKEUP | NOVEMBER EDITION

Hello everyone! For a while i had been reaching for the same products over and over, which i had mentioned in my previous everyday makeup post but i thought why not switch out a couple of things and i actually found myself reaching for some old favourites again, as well as some new ones...

| NARS all day luminous weightless foundation |

First up for foundation is an old favourite and still a favourite now, after picking up another bottle recently. What i have always loved about this foundation is that the coverage is full yet still natural and feels like nothing on the skin, as well as lasting all day long (which for me is always a must). The finish of this foundation is definitely more of the natural-luminous finish.

| revolution conceal and define concealer |

| bareMinerals invisible light translucent powder duo |

I first used this concealer constantly when it first launched as i loved it, then i discovered the my perfect colour concealer from Primark which i loved even more. That being said i have had to go back to this concealer as i am completely out of my back-ups and i can't find the concealer anywhere anymore in the Primark's local to me, so i don't know if it has been discontinued or if it is simply out of stock. That being said this concealer is simply as beautiful, lightweight and has great coverage. Then all i do is set both my foundation/concealer in place with my trusty bareMinerals powder duo, which keeps everything in place all day long and no need for touch-ups.

| anastasia beverly hills dipbrow pomade | 

| mac cosmetics pro longwear waterproof brow set |

So i have gone back to doing my brows the regular way, using a pomade over using the revolution brow tint and even though using the brow tint saves time, in the long run i found i was having to reach for something for touch-ups more and more. Of course i had to reach for my all time favourite by Anastasia Beverly Hills, along side my favourite tinted brow gel by MAC.

| ZOEVA matte eyeshadow palette |

On an everyday basis i like to keep my eye makeup super simple and quick to do, so i tend to just reach for one shade that i can simply pop on and blend out. Sometimes i will just reach for the bronzer that i am using but sometimes i will reach for a shade from a palette, like at the moment i am loving using the shade Eerily Empty which is the most beautiful neutral warm camel matte shade from the Zoeva matte eyeshadow palette. 

| ps pro hd mascara |

So another thing i have been doing on an everyday basis is simply just applying mascara to my top lashes, rather to both top and bottom as it looks a lot more natural and significantly reduces the risk of getting any transfer on your under-eye area. I am also still loving this mascara from Primark, which is such a bargain for a mascara at just £3 and especially because i actually like it better than the majority of the high-end mascaras i have tried in the past.

| laura geller baked gelato swirl illuminator |

No matter what the season is for me personally, i love a good golden/bronze highlighter and for me Gilded Honey is one of those that is always at the top of my favourites list. The pigmentation/texture of this highlighter is simply beautiful, as it is a super fine, yet smooth and easy to blend leaving you with this stunning gold highlight to the skin. 

| bareMinerals warmth all-over face colour |

I mentioned this product first in my previous everyday makeup post, as i had been really loving using it as an everyday eye colour. That being said now i have been using it for its "actual" purpose, which is as an all over face colour and for me this shade is perfect as a bronzer for me. The way that this mineral powder just blends out effortlessly and naturally, just leaving you with a bronzed look and some dimension to the face is just simply beautiful. I am not 100% sure if i love reaching for it as much as a pressed powdered bronzer, like my favourite invisible bronze bronzer also by bareMinerals but it is a close second.

| mac cosmetics lip pencil in the shade spice |

| mac cosmetics matte lipstick in the shade kinda sexy |

Finally for lips i have been switching between two different nude looks, one super light and the other more of a deep nude perfect for autumn/winter. When i just want to quick throw a lipstick on i have been reaching for KKW by Charlotte Tilbury a lot, as it is one of my favourite nudes and it is super comfortable to wear. For the darker more autumnal nude lip look, i have been loving pairing Spice lip liner and Kinda Sexy lipstick both by MAC together, as you get this beautiful neutral yet warm darker nude look when paired together. Sometimes i will just use the Kinda Sexy lipstick worn alone, which is when i want something in-between.

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

MY GO-TO SUMMER LIP COMBINATIONS

Hello everyone! For today's post i wanted to share with you another instalment in my "current go-to series", this time i wanted to switch things up a little bit and simply share with you the two lip combinations i am wearing day in, day out this summer. A little heads up, anyone who has read my posts for some time or knows me personally will know i am such a nude lip girl and i rarely wear anything else. That being said i believe every nude lip combination is different...honest!

morphe brushes color pencil in the shade bamboo

Kicking things off for combination number one, we are of course starting with a liner and more specifically this beautiful sand toned almost light-beige/peach coloured liner by Morphe. I actually have been using this pencil so much since around March time, i think and i love the formula of this liner as it is super creamy/pigmented/long-wearing and easy to work with as well as apply. The liners from Morphe are actually super similar to MAC lip liners, so if you are looking for a liner of similar quality but don't want to spend the £14 on one single pencil, then i definitely recommend picking one up for just £4.50 from BeautyBay.

anastasia beverly hills liquid lipstick in the shade naked

So to pair with the Bamboo liner the perfect lipstick shade to match and the one i was wearing non stop, is Peachstock lipstick by MAC but i recently completely used the whole thing up and i am yet to replace but i definitely will do next time i pop into MAC. That being said since then the perfect lip product to go/compliment this liner is the liquid lipstick shade Naked by Anastasia Beverly Hills, which of course is a well known shade by many but it is honestly the most perfect light peachy nude. What i have actually been doing is only applying a smaller amount to the middle of the lips and then blending out with my finger for a much lighter finish.

Sometimes i will finish this lip combination off with some gloss but sometimes i will simply just leave it with a matte finish, if i do opt for gloss i am still living for the primark nudes metallic nude lip gloss.

mac cosmetics lip pencil in the shade stripdown

Moving on to the next lip combination and of course starting with lip liner and no surprises here as i mentioned how MAC lip liners are one of my all time favourites, so much so i have pretty much all of the nude tones. That being said the one i have been favouring a lot this summer so far is the ever so famous/OG shade Stripdown. This is a much darker in tone nude liner, as it is more of a creamy brown-nude rather than peach/beige toned as the other one is. This is definitely one of those nudes that you can wear in so many different ways for each season, all depending on what shade you decide to apply on top.

bareMinerals gen nude matte liquid lipcolour in the shade cult

Recently i have been loving for a more cream/light brown-beige nude lip combination, adding the bareMinerals matte liquid lipstick in the shade Cult on top of the Stripdown liner. I have mentioned in a previous post how this particular shade isn't going to suit every skin-tone as it is super pale, yet paired with a more deeper/darker nude liner it becomes very wearable. Adding Cult takes a more autumn/fall lip shade to a summer look instantly, simply by lightening it up a little bit. I love how comfortable and long-wearing the Gen Nude liquid lipsticks are, as well as being super pigmented/smooth to apply and they also taste/smell incredible.

Catch up on a similar post HERE...

xo.

FLAWLESS + GLOWING NO MAKEUP, MAKEUP FOR SPRING/SUMMER

Hello everyone! Over the past week or so i have been reaching for the same makeup products, for a quick and easy no makeup, makeup look but still keeping that flawless finish to it. I am so obsessed with the way all of these products work together and it literally takes me around 15 minutes in total to create. I have noticed ever since i have been using the Revolution brow tint for my eyebrows, it has cut my makeup routine right now and it was probably taking me the longest to do my brows but this stuff it fuss free and easy...

mario badescu facial spray with aloe, herbs + rosewater

First things first before i apply any form of makeup, i have been obsessed with using this spray every single day before i apply my foundation and after i have applied my NUXE dry facial oil. This spray can be used in so many different ways but my favourite way to use it, is before makeup and then afterwards to set it all in place and it leaves your skin looking/feeling super hydrated.

l.a girl pro.coverage hd illuminating foundation in the shade beige

As this is a "no makeup, makeup" look i am going for i have actually been reaching for this foundation and even though it is a HD foundation, it is still light-weight feeling. The trick is to use a lot less than you normally would go far, just so you get that flawless/even base but your skin still looks like skin. This foundation is great for spring/summer or warmer weather, as it is super long-wearing and pretty sweat-proof too.

estée lauder double wear bb brush on glow highlighter

So this product is a way back when holy grail item that i always used to reach for, which i have recently re-discovered and i forgot how much i love this product. This is such a great light-weight product to pop under the eyes when you want a medium coverage with a highlighted finish, for a bright more awake under-eye.

ps bronze dewy glow face + body butter in the shade golden

I actually featured this particular product in a first impressions post last week, which you can catch up on here if you didn't catch it the first time. This is one of those products that you don't expect to be very good, but it is honestly one of the most beautiful items that you could have in your collection and especially for spring/summer. This gives your skin the most beautiful and healthy looking almost dewy/sunkissed glow, when applied with a damp beauty blender. I honestly can't put this product down at the moment for all of those reasons, as well as the fact it smells like coconut.

art deco limited edition bronzing powder

I have mentioned before how much i love reaching for this bronzer, especially in the summer months as it gives you the most beautiful sunkissed bronzed finish. The brand always release different limited edition versions of this bronzer every year, in a similar way to what Estée Lauder do. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative the bronzer i featured in that first impression i mentioned above, is super similar.

ps pro hd mascara + mac pro longwear waterproof brow set

For eyes i keep things super simple, as it is still pretty much a no makeup, makeup look and a lot of the products are focused on the skin. That being said i still like to apply some mascara to my top and bottom lashes, i really like this ps pro mascara at the moment as you can achieve super long yet clump-free lashes really quickly and you don't have to apply in layers to build it up. Then i like to set my brows in place, even though i already have the brow tint on my brows.

abh liquid lipstick in the shade naked + ps nude metallic nude gloss

Even though this is suppose to be "no makeup, makeup" i still like to go in with a nude lip combination of some kind and this particular one has been my one of choice just recently. I have mentioned in a couple of posts now how much i love this gloss, it looks super glossy yet not sticky and you can wear it alone, simply with a lip liner or lipstick/liquid lipstick as a topper.

Catch up on a similar blog post HERE...

xo.

MARCH FAVOURITES | BEAUTY + LIFESTYLE

Hello everyone! Finally, finally, finally we are officially in Spring, which hopefully means we are going to be getting some warmer weather some time soon. Putting that a side i still can't believe that we are about to say goodbye to another month, i'm pretty sure it was new year's five minutes ago. This month as i haven't got all that many beauty and lifestyle favourites to do individual posts, so i thought i would switch things up and combine the two..

mario badescu facial spray

So i have been wanting to try something else out from Mario Badescu, after discovering my love for the drying lotion and i had actually seen a fair few people talking about/using the facial spray, so i decided to give it a go myself. The facial spray comes in three different fragrances, aloe herbs and rose water (which i have), aloe chamomile and lavender and then also aloe cucumber and green tea. This spray leaves your skin feeling refreshed and hydrated without completely wetting your face through, how some facial sprays do. I love how pretty affordable the products are for a more "high-end" brand, as this facial spray for the large 236ml one it is only £11 and the MAC ones cost anything from £12 for the small one and £19 for only 100ml of product.

makeup revolution fast base foundation stick

Next up is the foundation that i have been reaching for pretty much every single day since i first tried it, which i didn't think that would of ever been the case. I have never found that stick foundations work for my normal/slightly dry skin-type but this one works so well and lasts all day long, whilst still looking flawlessly applied. Usually when you are using a stick foundation you have to use a brush to blend it out, which i am not a fan of doing but this foundation blends out flawlessly with a beauty blender. (foundation review post)

morphe bamboo color pencil + anastasia beverly hills gilded lip gloss

Last but not least for the beauty favourites this month, is actually a lip combination that i discovered i love only last week and it is literally just lip liner and gloss - super simple. I finally picked up some of the Morphe Lip Liners from BeautyBay recently and i love them, they are super pigmented, creamy and easy to work with. This shade bamboo is the most beautiful "soft sand" almost light beige nude shade and when applied all over the lips and then topped with a little of golden shimmer gloss from ABH, it looks simply stunning and i am obsessed!

with this man by jodi ellen malpas

I had mentioned in a recent things to binge on in the evenings/weekend post that i had been binge re-reading one of my favourite series of books called This Man, before the release of the all new book and that day came last week. Of course as soon as it was delivered to my door, all my plans for the evening was cancelled to start reading it. Once again Jodi has done an amazing job of captivating you and sucking you back in to all things Jesse and i simply can't put it down, which i am actually amazed i have managed to read properly as from Chapter six on-wards i couldn't stop being tear-y. Talk about a book filled of all the feels and emotions!

the matchmaker's playbook movie

Sticking with the whole romance theme, this time a book turned movie bought to you via Passionflix a service that i have spoken about before. This was also a new release this month and i was super excited to watch it, as i have loved every other movie they have released and i was not disappointed so much so i have seen the movie twice now! I also believe that this movie is going to have a sequel to it, which i can't wait for and i might have to indulge in the book series before this happens (which i have done now with a couple of the movies). 

Catch up on a similar themed post HERE...

xo.

BROW-DATE | UPDATED BROW ROUTINE 2018

Hello everyone! So it has been a post i haven't really done an updated version of for a while now, as nothing in my routine had really changed until a couple of months ago/recently because i am super fussy when it comes to my brows. But seeing as i finally switched some of the things i am using on my brows up, i thought why not share with you the products i am loving at the moment.

benefit browvo! conditioning primer

So every single day whilst i am doing my skincare routine, i always apply some of this brow conditioning primer by Benefit and i have been loving/using it for a couple of years now. This product i great to not only prep and allow brow products to last longer, but also as it is infused with keratin which helps your brows grow to be thicker and fuller over time. This product also comes in a mini/travel size now, which is great for sampling before investing in the full size (click to shop mini here).

ps 3-in-1 brow in the shade tobacco

If you read my recent testing primark beauty #2 post, then you will know that this was actually my favourite item from the pile of products i tried. I was super shocked at how much i love about this brow pencil from its easy to work with formula (both pencil and powder applicator), how perfect the shade tobacco is for my brows, the super handy spoolie and of course the fact that it is only £2 is simply mind blowing to me. Ever since picking this pencil up i have barely reached for anything different, that being said i don't think i will fully be giving up on my other well loved brow product coming next...

anastasia beverly hills dipbrow pomade in the shade dark brown

This product is one that has featured in every single one of my brow routine posts and is one that i have loved for so long now, as it is simply that good! So much so i feel as if it is the product that made me fussy when it comes to brow products now and i always refer to it as the bulletproof brow product. You might think that £19 for such a small product is a little steep, but a very tiny amount goes a very long way and lasts all day long through wind, rain, sun, sweat and snow. 

morphe y23 pro angle brush + morphe y21 flat definer brush

Whenever i reach for the ABH dipbrow, i always reach for the Y23 pro angle brush by Morphe to fill in brows as i love how precise you can be with application but the bristles on the brush aren't overly stiff. The angle of the brush is also perfect for creating that really nice arch to the brows, as well as filling in and picking up product evenly. I also always use the Y21 flat definer brush by Morphe to clean up/conceal the brows if needed or if i just want them to be super defined.

mac cosmetics pro longwear waterproof brow set

Finally, finally, finally after so many years i finally found a brow gel that i love equally as much if not more than the L'Oréal brow artist plumper, which is the pro longwear waterproof brow set gel in the shade brown/ebony by MAC. What i love so much about this product is how small the wand/brush is, as it allows you to be more precise when it comes to setting your brows into place. This particular shade is the perfect colour for my brows, as it is dark by not warm toned as some brown shades tend to add a reddish tint to my brows.

Catch up on my previous brow-date post HERE...

xo.

MY JANUARY MUST-BUYS | CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES + BEAUTY

Hello everyone! Now that we are in January things tend to go either way when it comes to that "after Christmas spending" period, some do no-spend January and some save their money for January, more specifically for the new-in items or sale items. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you a selection of things that are my personal favourite must-buy items this January, which is a mixture of things i have already bought and some that i still want to pick up. *some items linked are similar or limited stock on the sale items*

1. | missguided tan roll neck knitted jumper | £20 |

Now that it is January and we are well into winter, something warm, cosy and that is great for layering is going to be your best friend. This particular missguided number is perfect for doing just that, as it is such a neutral colour it will go with a so many different items all depending how you want to style it.

2. | dkny bryant park leather purse | was £90 now £60 |

If you are looking into investing or picking up a more "designer branded" purse then January is definitely the time to do so, as the majority of the department stores always have sales on. I was super lucky with mine as it was the last one in stock and i can't find it anywhere online now, but they have similar styles available.

3. | real techniques filtered face set | was £80 now £40 |

Just like i mentioned with the purses, the same applies with makeup brushes (which lets face it they can have a hefty price tag). Earlier this week i picked up this bargain half price real techniques set for just £40 instead of £80, which is such a good deal as it includes three different sponges (usually £5+ each), a brush holder and eight brushes (usually around £6+ each). I also received a different set also by Real Techniques for Christmas, which really inspired me to have a good clear out/brush replacement session.

4. | shein detail flap chain bag (chanel boy dupe) | £20.37 |

I have seen so many people talk about a site called Shein for a few months now and a fair few people have done hauls from the brand, so i decided to take a look for myself and i picked up this Chanel Boy bag dupe in the beginning of December. This particular bag is probably the closest dupe to the ever so expensive bag i have seen and to begin with before it arrived i wasn't too sure what the quality was going to be like, but i was proven wrong and now it is my go-to everyday bag at the moment. 

5. | st.tropez self tan luxe dry oil | £19.50 |

Seeing as we are in winter and we have all virtually lost our summer glow, more often than non we have to fake it and that can become a chore as all you want to do in the evenings is snuggle up in your cosy pyjamas in bed. That being said i love to stay tanned all year round, as it just makes me feel better within myself and this particular self tan dry oil is perfect for not only giving your that bronzed skin but also super hydrated skin.

6. | dorothy perkins mink apurla heeled boots | was £45 now £12 |

These particular boots are my most recent purchase and i am still waiting for them to arrive, but i am living for how stunning they are with the detailing on the block heel and not to mention how much of a bargain they were for just £12. I ordered mine from the Dorothy Perkins site which is now out of stock, but they still might be available in-store or on other Dorothy Perkins stocked sites. I can't wait to wear them already!

7. | boohoo natasha teddy fur biker style jacket | £45 |

I have been looking for a teddy styled jacket or coat for quite a while now and i noticed that Boohoo have quite a few different styles, new-in on their site and this particular one is definitely my favourite. I just love how cosy and warm, yet still stylish and versatile they are to just throw on and head out of the door. 

8. | topshop rio floral embellished cross body bag | £30 |

I am living for the different embellished cross body chained bags on Topshop at the moment, especially this particular style as it would go great with nude/neutral coloured outfits and also black outfits. Having a detailed bag in your collection is great to add a little something different, to an otherwise plain looking outfit.

9. | asos pimkie chunky cardigan | £39.99 |

During the winter months i love me a chunky knit cardigan, as they are just cosy and comfortable, as well as adding something to a plain pair of jeans and top. I really love this particular grey chunky knit cardigan, which is super similar to one i picked up last month in Primark along side a couple of others for just £13 each.

10. | anastasia beverly hills liquid lipstick set | £26 |

If you read my 2017 most read posts post, then you will have seen my review on finally being able to get Anastasia Beverly Hills lip products in the UK, either from their UK site, BeautyBay or Cult Beauty. That being said this particular set of mini liquid lipsticks (dazed, bittersweet and hudson) are great if you simply want to give a couple of shades a try, before picking up a full size or even if you have a friend's birthday coming up this month and are stuck on what to get them.

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

WHAT MAKEUP I WORE ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Hello everyone, i hope you all had a lovely Christmas! For today's post i thought i would do a little spin on a "face of the day" or an everyday monthly makeup post and share with you all the makeup that i wore on Christmas day. I don't know about you but i love to make an effort on Christmas day and i always tend to go with something sparkly/glowing yet still simple-ish. Don't forget you can click on the product name/shade to shop.

maybelline x gigi west coast strobing liquid gold

I have been loving using this along side an MUA luxe strobe cream as a primer.

milani conceal + perfect 2-in-1 foundation/concealer

Ever since picking this up again on Black Friday, i haven't been able to put it down.

maybelline fit me concealer

This is one of my all time favourite concealers and it never fails me, great coverage.

laura mercier translucent loose setting powder

Probably my favourite powder of the year, i just love how flawless it is.

anastasia beverly hills dipbrow pomade

Another product that never lets me down and is always a go to of mine.

mac x nutcracker loose pigment

Pigments are so quick yet they look like you have put a ton of effort in, this one from last years holiday collection is my favourite and looks stunning with a bit of bronzer through the crease too.

kiko 30 day lash treatment mascara + red cherry #523 lashes

Seeing as it was Christmas day i decided to opt with some lashes too, just for some extra drama and these red cherry lashes are simply beautiful and super in expensive.

zoeva graphic eyes rock n roll bride eyeliner pencil

I always opt for brown/bronze eyeliner pencils over black now, i like how it is subtle.

makeup revolution liquid highlighter

I love how natural looking these liquid highlighters look but they also make a great base.

mac x snowball happy go dazzling glare powder

Seeing as it is Christmas, i couldn't of not gone in with my limited edition highlight.

bareMinerals invisible bronze medium bronzer

This is my favourite bronzer of all day and i use it every single day anyway, obsessed.

ofra apricot blush

I go in and out of phases with using blush but this is a recent favourite that i picked up during Black Friday, which goes with every single makeup look you do.

maybelline x gigi east coast mccall lip liner pencil

This is one of my current favourite lip liners, as it is super creamy/hydrating.

anastasia beverly hills naked liquid lipstick

Choosing a lipstick was the hardest part but i decided to go with this one, as it went perfectly with the lip liner/look and it also lasts for such a long time, perfect for eating/drinking.

Stay tuned for Friday's blog post, talking all things 2017!

xo.

SIX HIGH-END PRODUCTS I PROBABLY COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT

Hello everyone! We all have those certain products in our makeup collections that we are always reaching for and re-purchasing over and over again, simply because we are that obsessed with that particular product. With that being said i thought i would share with you the products i probably couldn't live without in my collection, as part of a two part series and kicking things off with the six high-end products.

1. estée lauder double wear foundation

Out of all of the "high-end" foundations i have tried and loved over the years, this is the foundation that i always have to keep a bottle in stock (along side another foundation). I have reached for this foundation and loved for so many years now, as it honestly never lets me down and is great if you are really wanting a full coverage/bulletproof base. This always lasts all day long on me, in fact more often than not it still looks freshly applied when i come to remove it. It is definitely one of those sweat-proof, shine-proof and weather-proof foundations, which retails for £32.50GBP.

2. anastasia beverly hills dipbrow pomade

Ever since i first tried this product out years ago now, i have constantly reached for it on an everyday basis and nothing else. Even though recently i have been reaching for a fair few newer products, i still keeping going back to this. That being said even though you might think £19GBP for such a small brow product might seem a little steep, don't be fooled as a tiny amount goes a long way and it will last you for a really long time. As this is a pomade it is each to work with, pigmented and is another one of those bullet-proof products.

3. bareMinerals invisible bronze bronzer

If you remember earlier on in the year i mentioned that i tried to get my hands on this particular bronzer in the shade medium, for the longest time but finally i managed to get one and ever since then i have barely put it down. It straight away went to the top of my favourite bronzer of all time list, as it is just simply stunning with its natural finish and effortlessness to blend. I honestly thought my much loved NARS laguna bronzer, would take some beating but how i was wrong. This bronzer retails for £25GBP and comes in four shades.

4. mac cosmetics extra dimension skinfinish in the shade oh darling

So this was probably the hardest decision to make, as i am a complete highlighter addict and i have so many favourites. That being said it would definitely be between this one by MAC and the topaz powder highlight by Jouer, which is currently broken up into a million pieces so i definitely need to pick up another soon. I love how fine-milled/lightweight the formula of the extra dimension skinfinishes are and the shade oh darling is simply the most beautiful metallic gold shade, which is my favourite tone of highlighter. The extra dimension skinfinishes retail for £24.50GBP and come in seven different shades.

5. mac cosmetics pro longwear lip pencil

There is no shock that the rest of the products in this post are all from MAC, because they are probably my favourite brand for lip products. I have so many different lip liners from the brand and if i could only keep a select few, they would definitely stay unlike ones from other brands. Out of the regular formula and the pro longwear formula, the pro longwear liners are by far my favourite as they are super pigmented, longer wearing and easier to apply. A particular favourite shade of mine is the shade oh honey! (warm nude shade), this particular formula of lip liner retails for £15.50GBP and the regular formula ones are £13.00GBP.

6. mac cosmetics lipstick

Finally if you know anything about me, then you will probably know that i am a complete nude lipstick/lip product hoarder in general and i actually always say if i was to completely get rid of all of my lip products but only keep one kind, it would be my MAC lipsticks. MAC lipsticks are just those cult classic favourite loved by many people, me especially as they are pigmented, come in so many different shades and they last for quite a long time on the lips. Just like any person i definitely have my favourite ones in my collection (shock horror the nudes), such as yash (deep neutral matte), honey love (light beige tone matte) and peachstock (creamy beige peach satin). The MAC lipsticks retail for £16.50RRP.

Catch my "three go-to lip liners" post HERE...

xo.

BROW PRODUCTS TRIED AND TESTED

Hello everyone! Earlier this year i shared with you all my current brow routine, which you can catch here if you haven't already and i mentioned how i barely switch up the products up that i use on my brows. Saying that over the years i have tried out my fair share of eyebrow products, before landing on a cult favourites and just recently i have been trying to switch things up from time to time. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some tried and tested eyebrow products, that i love and would recommend giving a go.

anastasia beverly hills dipbrow pomade in the shade dark brown 

So i thought i would kick things off with the "cult favourite" brow product that i mentioned and is something i used every single day for well over a year, because i was that obsessed with it and i still have so much love for this product. Using a pomade is super easy to control what you are doing with the product, as you are using a brush to create the shape/hair-like strokes. This product will keep your brows on through anything, sun, sweating, rain, hail, snow as it is completely budge proof and waterproof. This pomade retails for £15 but is well worth the money in my eyes, this tiny pot will last you such a long time and a little goes a long way.

freedom pro brow pomade in the shade dark brown

If you are still not convinced about the ABH dipbrow pomade or you have never tried a brow pomade out before and you don't want to spend a ton of money, on something you might not like then this product is for you. Just like the ABH one this is also is also long wearing, budge proof and has a similar if not identical formula. The only difference between the two products is this one is probably a touch cooler in tone and this one only retails for £5 on tam beauty or superdrug in-store and online.

freedom duo eyebrow powder in the shade dark brown

If brow powder is your thing then you definitely need this one in your life, which also happens to be from freedom makeup london and another dupe for an ABH product. This brow powder is pigmented, yet easy to work with and also long wearing. As this is a brow powder duo is comes with two different shades one cool toned and one a little darker (which is the one i always use) but you could use a mixture of the two all depending on your personal preference. The most baffling/amazing thing about this product is the fact it only retails for £2 for such an amazing product, that i have been reaching for on a regular basis recently.

benefit browvo! conditioning primer

This product has been a real brow saviour and is something i have used every single day on my brows for around a year now, i simply brush some on my brows before i start my makeup. This products acts almost like a primer for your brows, allowing product to sit/last longer and better, as well as encouraging your brow hairs to grow fuller and thicker. It isn't the cheapest of product retailing for £23.50 but just like a lot of brow products, a little goes a long way and lasts you for quite a while.

l'oréal brow artist plumper in the shade medium/dark

This particular product from L'Oréal is another cult favourite of mine and one that i go back to over and over again, as nothing ever seems to quite compare to this brow gel for me. I like to brush/set my brows in place by combing through them with this upwards, doing this gives you the appearance of fuller and fluffier brows that will stay put all day long. A great thing about this product is as it is tinted, you could simply apply a small amount to your brows if you are in a hurry and you would be good to go. Another great product from the L'Oréal brow artist range is the brow artist shaper in the shade dark brunette and probably my favourite drugstore brow pencil, as i really struggle with the shades of pencils being too warm toned and making my brows appear reddish, yet this one doesn't do that at all and it is also super easy to work with.

estée lauder double wear brow lift duo in the shade black

So i picked this up in the sale on feel unique recently, as i really wanted to experiment more with brow pencils and i thought why not give this one a go, as i always love anything i have tried from Estée Lauder and this product was no different. Even though this is in the shade black, you wouldn't think so as it isn't too dark and it matches the tone of my brows perfectly. The tip of this pencil is super thin and is perfect for creating hair like stokes, for a full yet natural everyday brow. This is also a duo product so one end is the brow product and the other end is a beautiful brow bone highlight shade, that allows you to clean/neaten up the brows easily.

eylure pro-brow dybrow in the shade dark brown

Finally we have a product that will make all the difference when it comes to filling in your brows and also their over-all appearance when you aren't wearing makeup. I have tried a couple of different brands of eyebrow dyes, yet nothing compares to this one from Eylure. A lot of the time we are quick to spend unnecessary money on getting our eyebrows tinted at a salon, when you can get the exact same result easily from the comfort of your own home. One of these dybrow kits lasts for 12 or more uses for around the £7 mark and some salons charge more than that for one treatment. 

♥

EBAY DUPES FOR HIGH-END BRUSHES

Hello everyone! If you are a makeup addict or just a frequent makeup wearer, then you will know one of the key things to have is makeup brushes, just like a painter needs paint brushes to do their work. A lot of the time we tend to spend a fortune on brushes, because lets face it half of the time they aren't the cheapest of items. Now with the aid of eBay and Amazon, there are so many different high-end brushes that have been duped "look-a-likes" that are just as good as the real thing (with the exception of a few misses). With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you a selection of eBay dupes for high-end brushes/brush brands.

1. nars yachiyo kabuki brush £43 vs. 

eBay flat kabuki powder brush £1.64

I am all about a splurge from time to time but i have to be honest, i don't think i would ever spend £43 on a single makeup brush, a set yes maybe but not a single brush. With that in mind eBay have an identical dupe for famous NARS yachiyo brush and i bet there is barely any difference, plus you could go through around 25 of the eBay dupes for the price of one NARS brush.

2. tarte airbuki bamboo powder foundation brush £23 vs. 

eBay flat powder foundation bamboo brush £1.39

Literally how identical are the two of these brushes and so unique in their shapes, as it is a great really dense brush and perfect for blending all over face products (whether that be foundation or powder). This brush is also one of those dressing table piece items, especially if you are into mixing woods and metals together.

3. real techniques bold metals arches powder brush £22 vs.

eBay seven piece metals brush set £6.99

If you really don't justify spending £20+ on technically still a drugstore item/brush, then eBay or Amazon have you covered on that front as they have so many different metal brushes on offer, from single items to sets and talking of sets you can actually buy a few different sets for the price of one single brush. The eBay dupes are also still as weighty feeling as the real deal, which amazes me as the product is obviously a lot less costly.

4. tarte the slenderizer bamboo dual ended contour brush £27 vs.

eBay double sided bamboo contour brush £2.81

Another great unique/dual purpose brush that is identical to one from Tarte, this particular brush picks product up so well and is great for applying/blending out cream products, such as contour/concealer etc. The feel of the bristles are super soft yet sturdy and is super handy for travel.

5. anastasia beverly hills dual sided brow brush £14 vs.

eBay double ended brow brush £1.39

Who doesn't love a good dual ended brow/spoolie brow brush? I know i do, as they are super handy when going in with a brow pomade and you can brush through the brows by simply twisting the brush around. I am also extremely picky when it comes down to the angle/shape of a brow brush and this particular eBay brush is just as great of an angle/density as the ABH number 14.

6. nars ita kabuki brush £43 vs.

eBay flat kabuki contour brush £1.88
Finally we have another brush that i would never justify spending £43 on and it is another ever so famous brush from NARS, that i have actually tried the real deal out before and i wasn't that impressed if i am being completely honest. That being said my friend picked up an eBay dupe for under £2 and it became her favourite contour brush, so naturally i had to give it a try for myself and i actually ended up preferring it.

♥

MY HANDBAG ESSENTIALS

Hello everyone! One of my favourite types of videos to watch and posts to read, hands down has to be the "what's in my bag" type i just can't get enough and i have done my fair share of them on my blog through-out the years also. Seeing as it has been a while since my last what's in my... post, i thought why not do an updated version but with a little twist. That twist being just focusing on the essentials, those i can't cope without them being in my bag items (excluding the obvious phone, money and keys ha).

apple earPods aka headphones

One thing i can't cope without is headphones, in fact i am wearing them right now as i type this post out ha ha. So if i am on the go (not whilst i am driving) but on the tram or the train, i have to have my headphones so i can listen to music and of course watch the odd Instagram and Snapchat story.

merci handy flower power hand cleansing gel

I spotted this a while back on Birchbox i believe and thought how much it looked like the old school Bath & Body Works hand gel, but then whilst i was browsing in Topshop one day i discovered they sold it when at the tills paying and i picked one up. This has got to be one of the best ones i have every tried, as it not only kills the germs but it also moisturises your hands unlike some sanitizers that dry out your hands. So far i have tried the lollypop one and the flower powder one, but i have to say flower power is my favourite out of the two.

caudalie hand and nail cream

Sticking with the hand theme, the next item i can't deal without having in my bag is a hand cream because my hands do get dry quite quickly and i know that is down to me being an over hand washer. This mini Caudalie hand cream is perfect to keep in your bag, as it doesn't take up any room at all and a little goes a long way. I picked these mini ones up a couple of times, as part of my Feel Unique Pick 'n' Mix Beauty sample service.

wrigley's extra ice spearmint sugar free gum

Not the most exciting item but still an essential that is probably in most peoples bags, as much as your keys or wallet would be and that is chewing gum. Carrying gum comes in handy for so many reasons, especially if you have eaten something garlic-y at a restaurant ha! I usually carry around the pots of gum around but last time i went to get one, they didn't have any one the Extra Ice ones in pot version so i just picked up a single packet.

primark rose explosion perfume rollerball

This particular scent was in my previous what's in my handbag post and i had mentioned how handy these are to just throw in your bag, they don't take any room up and you don't have to worry about the bottle smashing. So i always just pick up one of these from primark once i am running low, as they are so in-expensive but it also smells insane for a cheaper scent and that is hard to come by.

mac cosmetics pro longwear lip pencil in the shade oh honey!

Finally moving on-to the good stuff and i try so hard to keep my handbag lip products to a minimum these days, unlike before when more than half of my bag would be lipsticks. Seeing as this lip liner is one of my favourites of all time, i had to go and do a repeat performance like i used to do with Créme D' Nude lipstick and have one in my collection and one in my handbag. This lip liner is super creamy, easy to apply, long-wearing and literally the most perfect nude that goes with every nude. 

mac cosmetics lipstick in the shade peachstock 

For my birthday i got a MAC voucher so i picked up a few new nude lipsticks that i had my eye on and wanted to add to the collection, this shade called Peachstock being one of them. I didn't expect to fall in love with this colour as much as i have, i now love it more than Honeylove and Créme D' Nude. Peachstock is just the most perfect peachy, light beige toned lipstick that you can just pop on quick and easy.

anastasia beverly hills liquid lipstick in the shade naked

Finally the last lip product that i always have to take out with me in my handbag and currently along side Peachstock, is one of my favourite go-to nude lip colours. The shade Naked by ABH is honestly my perfect nude in a tube, which i mentioned when i did a finally trying ABH liquid lipsticks post last month and i haven't been able to put it down since.

♥