MID-2018 MOST READ POSTS

Hello everyone! Now that we are officially in June and half way through the year, i thought i would carry on the tradition that i have done for the past couple of years on my blog and shared with you a summery of the most read/viewed posts from the year so far. This a great way to catch up on any posts that you might have missed first time around and that you might find useful...

mua luxe light lustre liquid highlighter review (friday 5th january)

First up we pretty much kicked off the new year with the first of many first impression/product review posts and one of my personal favourites. Over the past year or so i have become obsessed with liquid/cream highlighters, as well as how much the drugstore brands have been killing the affordable makeup product releases.

early spring clothing + accessories lust list (wednesday 21st february)

A huge favourite always seems to be clothing lust list/must-buy posts and especially this early spring wishlist post, that i shared back in February. I have been sharing my must-buy clothing, accessories and homeware pieces at the beginning of the month and the next instalment is coming up soon, until then catch up on the May edition here.

quick, easy + healthy pinterest breakfast ideas (monday 26th march)

This year i have been loving doing a wide variety of posts rather than just the majority being about beauty related topics, food being one of those things. I get a lot of my inspiration for healthy recipes from Pinterest, so i have been loving sharing a recap of some of my personal tried and tested favourites. Talking of food, i really want to get back into sharing some "what i ate" in a day type of posts again soon.

march favourites: beauty + lifestyle (friday 30th march)

Another style of post that i share every single month at the end of every month, is of course a selection of my favourite beauty/lifestyle items from that particular month. Sometimes i will share the two types of favourites separately or sometimes i will combine the two, just like i did in a popular favourites post this past March.

books i want to read in 2018 part two (wednesday 25th april)

I have done a handful of these posts through out the years on my blog now and they also seem to be a hit, probably with the fellow romance book readers. A great place to find new book inspo/reads is by downloading the goodreads app, which is completely free and you can add your books into different categories from read, to currently reading and also want to read. 

how-to: update your wardrobe for summer on a budget (wednesday 25th may)

Finally a popular post from just last week and one of many "how-to"/tips and tricks post, that i have posted about on my blog. I am personally all about saving money on anything, whether that be clothing, makeup or even food. As i am like that i always like to share any tricks that i have picked up, knowing it would help others.

 Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

WHAT'S IN MY MAKEUP BAG | TRAVEL EDITION

Hello everyone! When i was recently thinking what to pack into my makeup bag, i suddenly realised that it has actually been a hot minute since i last did a "what's in my makeup bag" post and the reason for that being i don't usually use a makeup bag unless i am travelling somewhere. So i thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share with you, what i decided to pack as well as a couple of makeup items that i can't seem to put down...

So the makeup bag that i am using is the same one that i featured in my previous "what's in my makeup bag" post, simply because i am still obsessed with everything about it. Even though i picked this up last year, you can still get your hands on it here (peachy wash bag). It is super spacious, easy to clean if you get anything on it or in it and even thought it has a super cute peachy design you can still see inside for what product you are searching for. Moving on to the makeup that i decided to pack, i went for products that i know work well together and mainly focusing on the base as i always do. What i did do though is pack a couple of different lip options, from matte nudes to gloss and even a brighter lip in case i feel like switching things up.

(click to shop what's in my makeup bag)

l'oréal infallible pro-glow foundation in the shade 205

primark ps my perfect colour liquid concealer in the shade nude beige

bareMinerals invisible light powder duo

rimmel insta contour stick in the shade medium

bareMinerals gold obsession candlelight glow highlighter

artdeco limited edition bronzing powder

revolution brow tint in the shade dark brown

mac pro longwear waterproof brow set in the shade brown/ebony

little mac pigment trio (travel size)

mac false lash extreme black mascara (sample size)

morphe brushes color pencil in the shade bamboo

anastasia beverly hills liquid lipstick in the shade naked

mac matte lipstick in the shade honey love

mac retro matte lipstick in the shade relentlessly red

primark ps nudes metallic lip gloss

Catch up on my things i'm loving on ASOS right now post HERE...

xo.

UPGRADING MY DRESSING TABLE MAKEUP STORAGE

Hello everyone! It has been a good year probably almost two, since i had a huge spring clean/de-cluttering of my makeup collection and it was getting way out of hand (when i say out of hand, i mean i could barely shut my drawers as they were full up to the top). So i decided to have a huge sort through and throw away/give away like i normally do, the things i didn't use or didn't want to keep anymore. I also decided to upgrade my dressing table makeup storage, i did have some Muji drawers which housed my lip products but they simply had to make way for the most perfect set of drawers i have ever seen...

So these are the set of five drawers i picked up by the brand Beautify and it is in fact a brand i have spoken about before, as part of a eBay makeup storage ideas under £40 post. That being said i actually picked mine up from Tesco via the click+collect service, you can also get the storage from Domu and eBay also but i went with Tesco as it was the quickest. You can get the set of six drawers in two different styles, one when you have a open top or one like mine which has a closed top that can be opened. What i love about these drawers is how the bottom drawer is slightly bigger than all of the others, making it the perfect size for foundations or larger bottled items and i also put a couple of my favourite highlight/contour sticks on the end. In the drawer one up from the bottom drawer, i have put all of my favourite/everyday bronzer, highlight both liquid and powder as well as my favourite face powders at the back.

In the next drawer i have some more of my favourite/go-to powder products like bronzers, blushes and highlighters. At the moment i just have them spread out like this as i had a huge de-clutter before hand so i still have some space to fill with any new favourites that might come along, that being said at the moment i don't have too many favourites left and then the highlighters/bronzers i still like but i don't reach for as often are all stored in my dressing table drawer. 

Next up i have put all of my go-to/everyday eye and brow products, as you can tell there is room for quite a lot of products including two eyeshadow palettes. Another great thing about these drawers is they are big enough height-wise to stack slightly smaller products as well, allowing you to fit more inside of the drawers overall. The quality of how the drawers are made are so much more sturdy and thicker acrylic, unlike the Muji ones which were a thinner acrylic. Then in the final two drawers i have my go-to lipsticks/liquid lipsticks, which i think i might do a separate post on in the form of an updated nude lip products collection as even after a huge de-clutter there is still quite a lot of products to go through. 

Where to buy the beautify six tier clear acrylic drawers

| tesco (click to buy) | domu (click to buy) | eBay (click to buy) |

xo.

MY GO-TO BROWN/NUDE LIP LINERS

Hello everyone! So almost a year ago now i originally shared a dedicated post talking all about my three go-to nude lip liners, which you can catch up on here if you didn't do so first time around. That being said during this autumn/winter i have really been enjoying reaching for the slightly deeper/brown tone nude lip liners, to pair up with some of my favourite nude lipsticks. As if you didn't guess by now that i am such a nude lip lover and i barely wear anything but nudes, whether that be a matte, creme or gloss finish...

l.a girl lip liner pencil in the shade natural creme

First up is probably the palest shade out of the four and also the most affordable, at just £2.50 from beautybay. I have tried and loved so many products by L.A girl in the past but this one definitely is my favourite, even though i have barely spoken about it in previous posts. This particular shade is more of a pinky/nude-brown colour, which allows this lip liner to go with pretty much any shade of nude applied on top. The formula of these lip liners are super easy to control, long-wearing and come in a wide range of different deeper shades. 

rimmel lasting finish lip liner in the shade cappuccino

Another great affordable brand of lip liners i love and so much so, i pretty much own every single lip liner by them. This particular shade Cappuccino is the perfect nude/brown colour, which always gives me serious 90's lip vibes. I always like to pair this lip liner with either Yash by MAC or the Nip+Fab liquid lipstick in the shade Biscuit, to create the perfect beige/brown nude lip look. If you prefer a slightly pinker nude/brown shade (cooler in tone) than Cappuccino, then the shade Tiramisu is the perfect shade.

mac cosmetics lip liner pencil in the shade spice

If i was forced to get rid of all of my lip liners from every brand but one, then i would probably keep all of my MAC liners as even though i do love other brands, these are the ones i always go back to and i think it is simply because they nail everything in one pencil. Their liners are long-wearing, easy to apply and come in pretty much any colour you could think of. The shade Spice is the newest in my collection and one that has quickly become an all time favourite, as it is the perfect warmer nude/brown-ish shade. One of my favourite ways to wear this lip liner is actually by itself, which you can get away with when it comes to MAC lip liners and even though they will set you back £14 a pencil, they last a pretty long time.

mac cosmetics lip liner pencil in the shade stripdown

Last but not least we have probably one of the most popular lip liner shades also from MAC, which is the shade Stripdown. Just like the L.A Girl Natural Creme lip liner, this shade is one of those that pretty much goes well with any other lip colour applied on top or by itself again. Stripdown is one of those perfect nude/beige brown-ish toned shades, which is one of my favourite tones to wear along side the shade Oh Honey! also by MAC and i have gone through a few of those.

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.

BUDGET BEAUTY WEEK: TIPS & TRICKS TO SAVE MONEY

Hello everyone and welcome back to another instalment of "budget beauty" week! Being the complete makeup collector/hoarder/self-diagnosed addict that i am, i am always looking for new makeup/existing makeup that i want to try but through it all there is always one rule i stick by and that is finding the best deal/way to save money before i buy. With that being said i have discovered so many different ways to save money when buying beauty or anything in general, so i thought why not share some of those tips and tricks.

1. always search on google for the cheapest seller/what is on offer where.

2. take advantage on things you want to try if on a 3for2 or buy one get one 1/2 off offer.

3. want fancy nails quick but don't want to spend £30+ pick some up and do them yourself.

4. try the affordable makeup dupes before the high-end product.

5. take advantage if something is on offer by stocking up, such as picking up two/three toothpastes at a time because when you come to re-purchase next time the item could be back to full price.

6. use less of a product that you already own, you might be using more than needed.

7. play the waiting game, wait until the next set of offers are released.

8. sign up to brand newsletters/emails, as they very often send discount codes/offers.

9. take advantage of loyalty cards such as superdrug, boots etc, as points make prizes.

10. pick up free beauty samples, i have a tips and tricks post on samples here.

11. love having tinted eyebrows but don't want to spend £7+ every month? buy the eylure dybrow kit for the same price, do it yourself at home and you will get 12+ uses out of the one box.

12. buy try me samples such as smashbox or benefit from boots, before investing in the full size.

13. buy higher end makeup from blogger/instagram sales or depop.

14. take advantage of sale/offer days, such as thursday's on superdrug.com for beautycard members, as well as black friday/boxing day and end of season sales.

15. ask for more high-end beauty/makeup items for christmas and birthdays.

16. sell your un-used and un-wanted products or do a swap with a family member/friend.

17. add something to your basket and keep it there, 9 times out of 10 the brand will send you an email stating that the product is still in your basket and they will offer a discount code.

18. running low on your favourite "tubed" product, make a small cut at the top to get the remaining product out therefore you are not wasting anything.

19. return your empty containers to stores such as mac and lush to receive free products.

20. go on a spending ban for a month, that might seem hard as first but it is a great way to stop yourself from buying something for the sake of it.

Catch up on yesterdays budget beauty week 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. 

♥

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE SETTING POWDERS

Hello everyone! Something i will always remember from when i started to wear makeup at around age fifteen-ish, is the first ever makeup purchase i made and it was the ever so still kind of famous stay matte powder by Rimmel. I believe i used to just use concealer, powder, a little mascara and lip balm back then as i was still at school. That being said fast-forward ten plus years to the place i am now, with multiple favourite setting powders and with that in mind, for today's post i thought i would share with you all my all time favourites.

rimmel stay matte pressed powder in the shade transparent

Kicking things off with the powder i was talking about in the beginning and the very powder that i wouldn't like to guess how many i have gone through over the years, yes you got it Rimmel stay matte. The texture of this powder is so silky soft, it does just what it claims to and minimises the appearance of any pores you might want to hide. If you are yet to try this powder, you can't really go wrong for £3.99 and it comes in six shades.

l'oréal infallible 24h matte powder in the shade warm vanilla 

So after years and years of sticking to the same Rimmel powder, i actually decided to branch out and try a different powder and this is the powder that took over and stole my heart. Yet again another powder that i have gone through so many of, yet again another powder that does what it claims to and is a great one for those scorching hot days. This powder retails for £5.99 and comes in three shades.

nyx hd finishing powder in the shade banana

As i became more confidant/more adventurous with my makeup, i started to learn what i liked from the base products i was using and one of the things was/still is a bright under-eye. Banana/more yellow toned powders are amazing for further achieving this, as well as a brightening concealer and this powder is one i also love in the translucent pressed and loose form too. For a "drugstore" powder this is slightly more on the price-y side at £9 but honestly i still think it is worth every penny. 

makeup revolution luxury banana powder

Sticking with the banana/brightening themed powders but this time a loose finely milled powder, that will make your under-eye area look super bright and almost air-brushed looking which is great if you are like me and some powders crease easily under your eyes. This particular product is such a dupe for the makeup worlds famous Ben Nye banana powder but only costing £5, which is a complete bargain as a little product goes a long way.

rcma no-colour powder

I picked up this powder towards the end of last year, after seeing so many people on YouTube rave about it and i was just like i need to see what the fuss is about (along side one i will get to soon). I honestly can't grip my head around how air-brushed this powder makes your make set, without adding any colour/flashback to the face. It is super soft and lightweight feeling on the skin, the only downside to it is that is is super messy so don't wear your best clothes when using it. This powder retails for £12 and also comes in a translucent form.

laura mercier translucent loose setting powder

As you could probably tell for the longest time i was team pressed powder all the way, but for the past year i tend to mainly reach for a loose powder now as there is just something about them. They always sit beautifully on the face and this one in-particular is just simply beautiful. It is so light-weight and luxury feeling, as well as being a great powder to bake with, which i am not keen on doing with the rcma no-colour powder. This powder is definitely the most expensive of the bunch retailing for £29 but a little product goes a long way again.

rimmel insta fix and matte translucent powder

This powder is one of two new powders new to the drugstore recently and i have actually been loving them both. The first is the insta fix and matte powder by Rimmel, which i thought was probably a new pimped up version of the stay matte but this one doesn't add any colour whatsoever, it just mattify's the skin with its light-weight pressed formula. Even though mine have all worn off, i also loved the cool touch of the hashtags in-printed on the powder. This powder retails for £4.99 and comes only in this translucent shade.

maybelline fit me matte and poreless powder in the shade translucent

Finally we have another new product to the drugstore recently and honestly there is a powder god out there somewhere, because if you have read my posts for some time then you will know that the fit me foundation and concealer are two of my go-to holy grail favourites. So naturally i knew before i even tried this, that i was going to like it and it is as equally as amazing. This powder retails for £5.99 and comes in this translucent shade, as well as four other skin-tones shades. 

♥

HIGH-END BASE MAKEUP I WANT IN MY COLLECTION

Hello everyone! When it comes down to doing my makeup, my favourite part by far of the whole process is the base products and if you have read my posts for some while then you will probably already know this about me. In fact last week i posted my current everyday go-to sweat-proof base makeup, that being said there is always a new release or higher end base product i find myself lusting after. So for today's post i thought i would share with you some of the high-end base makeup products i want to try/want in my collection.

1. urban decay naked skin shapeshifter contour palette
3-in-1 palette for contour, colour-correcting and highlight (cream and powder), i feel as if this palette would be super handy for travel as you literally have most of your base makeup products in one place.

2. clinique beyond perfecting 2 in 1 foundation and concealer

I always see people using this foundation and it intrigues me so much, as it has good coverage, light-weight formula and is a 2-in-1 foundation/concealer like the one from Milani that i love.

3. it cosmetics your skin but better cc cream 
I always watch Victoria (inthefrow) using this foundation in her videos/vlogs and her skin always looks amazing, i have also never tried it cosmetics before so i am lusting.

4. guerlain l'Or primer base

Paying £47 for a face primer seems ridiculous, but everyone who i know has tried this, has fallen in love and even though they want to hate it because of the price, they can't. Apparently it is literally that good for hydrating the skin and giving it the perfect base for makeup.

5. yves saint laurent touche éclat glow shot in the shade 1

This caught my eye just over a month ago, after i swatched it in-store and it is a simply beautiful light-weight liquid highlighter with a natural finish. That being said i actually picked one up by Elf that is super similar, so could it already have a dupe?

6. bareMinerals prime time brightening foundation primer

I am all for that brightening effect when it comes to any makeup product and i have loved every single product i have ever tried from bareMinerals, in fact i have never heard anyone say anything bad about this primer!

7. too faced born this way concealer
I am so late to jump of the born this way bandwagon (both concealer and foundation), i think i went to buy it when it first got released but i couldn't get a shade i would be and then i forgot to pick one up to give a go.

8. smashbox photo finish primerizer
The idea of this product excites me so much, a primer and moisturizer in one? yes please! I am all about multi-purpose products that will save me time and effort in the morning time.

9. bareMinerals bareSkin complete coverage serum concealer
Another bareMinerals product i have had my eye on for a while, i just think this concealer would be great for those effortless no makeup, makeup days and when i want something light.

10. cover fx illuminating setting spray
I have turned into a setting spray junkie as of recent, they make such a difference to the way your makeup not only sits but how long it lasts/stays looking fresh. I also tend to opt for the illuminating/dewy finish's as well, to give a fresh glow to the skin.

11. it cosmetics ombré radiance bronzer in the shade warm radiance
Another product from it cosmetics that i have my eye on and shock horror it is a bronzer, i have so many if not too many bronzers in my makeup collection already but they are honestly one of my favourite things to collect and this one looks simply stunning/perfect for summer.

12. nude by nature highlighting palette
I have tried a couple of sample sized things from nude by nature, in the Feel Unique sample service which i have loved everything i tried and this palette has got my attention, i mean who isn't attracted to a highlight/highlight palette?

13. mac cosmetics studio fix perfecting powder
I have really been loving loose powders recently, so i keep wanting to give different ones a go and pressed ones too i don't always like to stick to the same one. It is very rare that i hate a MAC product i have tried, so i have high hopes for this powder.

14. dior diorskin nude air luminizer powder in the shade 004
I always lust over dior makeup in general but there is just something simply beautiful about this highlighter, maybe it is because i am a) a sucker for highlighters and b) i am a sucker for golden/bronze toned products.

15. nars all day luminous powder foundation
If you have read my posts for some while/before then you will know that i am a fan of the liquid version of this product from NARS, so when i discovered they do a powder version it made me need to try it. I also like how they come in the same shade names as the liquid version.

16. urban decay afterglow highlighting palette
Another new product from Urban Decay i am lusting after, as well as the shapeshifter palette and the new naked heat palette and of course it would be a highlight palette. The shade sidepiece in the palette, has my name written all over it.

17. mac cosmetics extra dimension blush in the shade telling glow
Finally i have never tried this particular formula of blush by MAC before, but i love the extra dimension skinfinishes so i think i would probably love this formula of blush also. This particular shade is stunning and perfect for these summer months.

♥

SPRING MAKEUP SWITCH UP: CREAM GLOW

Hello everyone! So now that we are firmly into spring, we can officially transition our makeup routines to fit in with the "slightly" warmer weather. Just recently i have been really enjoying using cream highlighters in my everyday makeup and setting it with a powder highlight, to add something a little extra glow-y for the time of year. With that in mind i thought why not share with you a selection of my personal favourite cream based highlighters, that i love reaching for from my collection.

mac cosmetics cream colour base in the shade pearl

If you are all about that subtle/natural glow, maybe in general or as part of a "no makeup" makeup look, then this particular cream based highlighter is perfect for that. MAC stock a wide range of different shades in this product, but the shade pearl is a favourite of mine as it is the most beautiful sheer pale gold with a slight icy-like shimmer to it. To achieve a more intense look with this product i like to apply the extra dimension skinfinish in the shade doublegleam with a fan brush, as they compliment each other well.

makeup revolution ultra strobe balm in the shade hypnotic

If you don't really want to splash the cash on the MAC cream colour base, then this strobe balm from Makeup Revolution is almost identical and it is only £5. The only difference i would say there was between the two products is that the strobe balm is slightly easier to work with, as it is more of thinner "balm" consistency. 

sleek precious metals highlighter palette

Last year these particular palettes from Sleek were well talked about in the beauty community on social media, especially the solstice palette. That being said my favourite for the cream shades is the precious metals palette, as it contains three stunning easy to work with cream shades. Unlike the two products above, these are definitely more of a blinding highlight. Last year i did a full haul/review post on the palettes here.

maybelline master strobe liquid in the shade medium
If cream highlight isn't really the type of product for you, then another alternative is more of a liquid consistency highlight like the strobe liquid from maybelline. The shade medium is my favourite, as it is the most stunning nude/bronze shade and we all know they are my kind of tones. As this product is a liquid highlight you can even add a tiny amount to your foundation, rather than just applying it to the high points of your face.

estée lauder genuine glow eyelighting creme in the shade sweetest thing
These particular creme highlighter pens from estée lauder were a favourite of mine last summer, so much so i had to pick up all three shades. They are such a fuss free/easy to use product, with a twist up to use concept and an applicator similar to the maybelline age rewind concealer, where it does most of the blending out as your apply. This particular shade is my favourite from the three, as it is the most beautiful golden/bronze shade.

maybelline master strobing stick in the shade light
As i had picked the shade medium in the strobe liquid, i decided to pick up the shade light in the strobing stick as i bought both products at the same time. As this is a strobing stick and not a liquid, it is more of a thick cream-like consistency that can be applied either straight to the face and blended out with a beauty blender, or simply rub some products onto your finger and pat into the skin, which happens to be my favourite way.

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TOP FIVE FAVOURITE BRONZERS

Hey guys, i hope you are all having an amazing day whatever you are up to! Let's all just take a moment to appreciate the beauty of bronzing/contouring, i mean even the smallest amount applied can make a massive difference to any makeup look as well as adding warmth/shape back into your face. So for today's blog post i thought i would share with you my top 5 favourite bronzers, some are old favourites and some are just mind blowing go-to products...

I have to start off with my favourite favourite favourite bronzer of all time... Yep you guessed it NARS bronzing powder in Laguna! I honestly can't deal without this bronzer and you can probably tell that from the huge dent i have made in it.

Next i have to mention the Define & Conquer Contour Kit by Seventeen, if you read my posts often you will know this has become a recent favourite of mine especially along side NARS Laguna. I will use Laguna to contour and then the bronze shade in this kit to bronze/warm up my face. The highlight shade in this palette is perfect for setting your under eye area also.

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder (aka the chocolate bronzer) is probably one of my favourite drugstore bronzers besides the one from Seventeen. It is a perfect bronzer for an everyday look where you don't want anything to harsh but still a little something something ha ha. Another bonus to this product is it smells incredible!

Topshop Bronzer in the shade Sandcastle is one of those bronzers that i will always hold a place in my heart as it was my holy grail bronzer of mine way back. In fact after choosing which bronzers to place in my top five, i have been reaching for it a little more. I love re discovering products i used to love and forgot about.

To finish up this top five post we have my HD Brows Bronzer in the shade 002, this is the most perfect bronzer in summer time as it gives you that perfect sun kissed glow but still looks very natural. The only downside to this bronzer is the packaging is so fiddly to get into and then it has a lid with in a lid (which i broke off because it was that annoying). Saying that i think they have changed the packaging slightly since i purchased the product.

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CLINIQUE ANTI-BLEMISH SOLUTIONS

Hey guys, i hope you are all having an amazing day whatever you are up to! *TMI ALERT* you know how it is when it's that time of the month your skin is never at it's best, as your hormones are all over the place and you are prone to crazy hormonal breakouts. I am one of those people that once i get a spot it decides to stick around for a while, which is so annoying.

For a while i have mentioned that whenever i get a breakout or i feel like i am about to, i apply the anti-blemish solutions clinical clearing gel by Clinique and that really helps any breakout that i get to disappear faster and helps keep them from reappearing. Along with that whilst looking at trying out a different face mask, i decided to give the cleansing mask from the same range at Clinique and these two products literally go hand in hand and work like a dream. This face mask not only helps with the breakout situation it also leaves your face feeling super soft/hydrated and looking glowing. Another tip which will cost you very little is drink tons of water...well not tons but at least 2 litres a day, by drinking more water this has done wonders alone for my skin! 

I would love to know any tips and tricks you have to help your skin?

♥

BEAUTY WISHLIST

Hey guys, i hope you are all having an amazing day whatever you are up to! All of us beauty addicts pretty much always have this "beauty wishlist" either written down in our notes or imprinted in our brains. So for today's post i thought i would share with you my current "beauty wishlist" that i have taking from being written down in a note to an actual picture board...

Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Series Contour Kit

Dior DiorSkin Rosy Glow Blusher

NARS NARSissist Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette

NARS Kabuki Ita Brush

Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-On Glow

Chanel Vitalumiére Aqua Foundation

MAC Mineralize Warm Soul Blush

MAC Cinderella Collection

(I am super excited for this collection to be launched next month, as it is literary two of my favourite things rolled into one... makeup and disney. Such beautiful colours and packaging too!)

♥ 

FACE OF THE DAY: GLOWING SKIN AND DARK LIPSTICK

Hey guys, i hope you are all having an amazing day whatever you are up to and happy monday! For today's post i thought i would share with you this makeup look i created which i am in love with, mainly for how glowing my skin looks (toots own horn) ha ha! A huge part of my skin looking really glowing is not only for the products i have been using but also my skin is the best it has been in ages, i think that is mainly down to me finally nailing my skincare routine and not being lazy with it...

Face Items:

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm Primer

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Instant Radiance Enhancer

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation in the shade Bone

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in the shade Light

MAC Prep+Prime Pen Highlighter in the shade Bright Forecast

Seventeen Define&Conquer Contour Kit in the shade Fair

NARS Bronzer in the shade Laguna 

Estée Lauder Pure Color Blush in the shade Sensuous Rose

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in the shade Soft&Gentle 

Eyes Items:

Urban Decay Primer Potion in the shade Original

Estée Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadows in the shades:

(Ivory Slipper, Hot Cinnamon, Wild Truffle and Chocolate Bliss)

MUA Luxe Felt Eyeliner Pen in the shade Black

Maybelline The Rocket Volume Mascara in the shade Black

Estée Lauder Pure Color Intense Kajal Eyeliner in the shade Blackened Black

Rimmel Brow This Way Kit in the shade Dark Brown

Benefit Gimme Brow in the shade Medium/Deep

Lip Items:

Essence Lip Liner in the shade Honey Berry

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in the shade Sangria 

 I hope you've all had a lovely weekend!

♥

WHAT'S IN MY MAKEUP BAG

Hey guys, i hope you are all having an amazing day whatever you are up to! I have no idea how long it has been since i last did the "what's in my makeup bag" tag, this is type of tag is one of my absolute favourites to read blog posts and watch youtube videos on. I recently got my hands on this amazing makeup bag from Alphabet Bags as they do a wide range of stunning items from makeup bags to wash bags and even phone cases. This particular makeup bag really got my attention as a) it is black and b) it has a gold glitter initial on it with a K for Katie...obviously! So without further ado here it is the contents of my makeup bag...

Maybelline Silk Glam Eyeshadow Quad in the shade Coral Drama

Benefit Gimme Brow in the shade Medium/Deep

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in the shade Creme D'Nude

Maybelline Color Tattoo in the shade On and on Bronze

NARS Bronzing Powder in the shade Laguna

Seventeen Define & Conquer Contour Kit in the shade Fair

BeautyBay Lipgloss in the shade Golden Glow

NYX Lip Liner in the shade Beige

Essence Lip Liner in the shade Honey Berry

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Instant Radiance Enhancer

L'Oreal Collection Exclusive Lipstick in the shade JLO's Nude

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm Primer

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in the shade Soft & Gentle

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in the shade Light

Revlon Photoready Skinlights in the shade Pink Light

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation in the shade Bone

Zoeva Blush in the shade Shy Beauty

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in the shade Jet Black

Eylure Lash Voluminous 24 Hour Eyeliner in the shade Black

Estée Lauder Pure Color Intense Kajal Eyeliner in the shade Blackened Black

Rimmel Brow This Way in the shade Dark Brown

MAC Prep+Prime Highlighter in the shade Bright Forecast 

L'Oreal Color Riche Lumiere Eyeshadow in the shade Gold Mania

Check out Alphabet Bags here: http://www.alphabetbags.com/

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FIFTYSHADES OF OPI

Hey guys, i hope you are all having an amazing day whatever you are up to! If you have never heard of Fifty Shades of Grey before a) where have you been? and b) you need to read the books! I have been a huge fan of the books since they were first released a couple of years ago and i am so excited to go and see the movie in a couple of weeks. In celebration of the movies release there is a few different companies that have launched "merchandise" to go along with the movie and O.P.I is one of them. I have always been a huge fan of O.P.I polishes as they are amazing quality, so i naturally had to get my hands on this collection...

The collection comes with 6 different shades of nail polish, which are:

My Silk Tie, Dark Side of the Mood, Romantically Involved, Embrace the Gray, Shine for Me and Cement the Deal...

The mini collection retails for £19.95 and you can get them from BeautyBay, Debenhams, O.P.I and John Lewis in the UK.

I purchased mine from BeautyBay.com where they have a discount on the polishes...

http://www.beautybay.com/nailcare/opi/fiftyshadesofgreyminicollection/

Laters Baby!

♥