EVERYDAY GLOW-Y SPRING MAKEUP: DRUGSTORE EDITION

Hello everyone! I mentioned in my previous post about how excited i was for this month, mainly because it is finally going to be spring and hopefully better weather is on its way very soon. With that in mind as well as preparing my wardrobe for spring, i also wanted to give my everyday makeup a switch up too. I had touched on it in a previous post how i had been on makeup buying ban, as i really didn't need anymore makeup but i did want to add a few new things just to switch things up. So i ended up placing an order on Superdrug to try some new drugstore pieces and i have ended up loving how my everyday makeup has been looking recently...

1. MUA pro base primer oil | click to buy |

So first up is this primer oil by MUA that i have been using every single day before i apply my makeup since towards the end of January, it is also one of the products that i mentioned in my february must-buys post. I love using facial oil's for hydration before applying my makeup, as i just feel like my makeup applies/lasts so much longer when i do and to say this product is just £4 i feel like it is just as good if not better than some higher end products that i have tried in the past.

2. maybelline dream satin liquid foundation | click to buy |

When i first spotted this foundation on the Superdrug website i was little confused, as i feel like this was a foundation that already existed or have they just re-branded the product? Anyway i decided to pick one up and give it a try, as i love Maybelline foundations, as you will already know if you have read my posts in the past because the Fit Me foundation is my go-to. What i love about this foundation is how much like skin your face still looks once it has been applied, yet it still has really good coverage and it leaves you with this beautiful yet natural radiant look.

3. barry M all night long concealer | click to buy |

I had seen a fair few people talking about this concealer by barry M and i have tried/loved one of their concealers in the past, so naturally i was intrigued to give it a try. The coverage of this concealer for such an affordable price is so good and it ticks all of the boxes, coverage wise, lightweight feeling, long lasting and brightening.

4. MUA luxe bronze & sculpt contour kit | click to buy |

So this product isn't a new-in product to my collection, it is one that i have loved for a while and it is that perfect spring/summer bronze shade, you know the kind that looks perfect with a tan. This product is one of those great travel friendly items to have in your collection as it contains both a bronzer and highlighter but i do generally just reach for the bronzer shade.

5. revolution jewel collection jelly highlighter |click to buy |

Back to something that is newer to my collection and one that i wasn't sure whether i was going to like it or not, but once again i was left feeling shocked at how beautiful it was. This highlighter by Revolution is a jelly like consistency and it isn't the kind of highlighter i would usually opt for, as i am such a powder or cream kind of girl. That being said i love how easy this product was to apply and blend out, leaving my skin glowing yet it still looked super natural and fresh. Once the product is blended in, it actually reminded me of my favourite bareMinerals highlighter and that is a cream to powder highlight.

6. revolution opulence highlight | click to buy |

This particular highlighter is one that i had wanted to try for a while but as i was on a makeup spending ban, i never picked it up. That being said i am so glad i finally did as it is the most beautiful powder highlighter, that the shades can be used individually or all together. Recently i have been reaching for one of the two highlighters, all depending on which one i feel like using that day but what i do love using the lightest shade in this compact to highlight my inner corner of my eyes with.

7. revolution pro microblading precision brow pencil | click to buy |

Is is just me or does anyone else feel like Revolution are killing the drugstore makeup game once again? I been obsessing over this brow pencil, which is so strange as i am such a pomade girl but i must admit i love how this leaves my brows looking. As the product suggests you can be super precise with this pencil with your brows, so much so it actually reminds me of the Benefit precisely by brow pencil but super affordable of course.

8. MUA amplify statement lash mascara | click to buy |

The only product that i haven't switched up is my mascara as i am still really enjoying using this one, which is by MUA once again.  I love how this mascara separates your lashes, leaving them looking full, long and clump free. For everyday makeup looks, i will just apply mascara to my top lashes only as i actually prefer the way that looks now.

9. maybelline color sensational creamy mattes lipstick | click to buy |
Finally for lips i love this Maybelline matte lipstick shade for spring, as it is the most beautiful light peachy-pink beige shade that is perfect for everyday wear. This is a matte finish lipstick but it isn't overly drying that some matte bullet lipstick can be, but if you do want to add a little gloss you can do easily as it goes with pretty much any gloss.

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

SUMMER BEAUTY HACKS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Hello everyone! Let's be honest Summer is pretty much the best season there is, right? I mean there is no better than feeling the sun/warm on your skin. That being said the warm weather can make your skin not be happy, leaving you looking like a sweaty mess when wearing your regular makeup, hair or skincare routine. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some of my personal favourite Summer beauty hacks, that actually make a huge difference...

 1. switch out your winter favourites, replacing them with summer favourites

Ditch the super heavy smoky eye looks, replacing them with something light/simple like a shimmery gold eye look or a simple neutral shade blended out. Step away from the vamp-y lip shades, replacing them with a simple nude/glossy lip or tinted balm. Natural glowing skin, is a summer must.

2. how to stop your eyelids from creasing

I know for me something i do struggle with when the weather is warm is eyeshadow creasing, which never happens during the winter months. This is where a good eyeshadow primer does come in handy, such as the Urban Decay Primer Potion as nothing will budge if you are wearing this. 

3. how to stop your mascara from transferring

This is such a simple hack but an extremely effective one to stop your mascara from transferring onto your under-eye area or eye lids, which is to switch out your regular go-to mascara for the waterproof version. I know waterproof mascara can be a pain to get off at the end of the day, but with the right eye-makeup remover you will be mascara free in seconds.

4. use the foundation you know works well for you

If you are opting for foundation or a tinted moisturiser in the summer, make sure it is one that you know is going to last in the heat or one that is specifically designed to last the duration. Some of my favourites are the Maybelline Fit Me, Estée Lauder Double Wear or Double Wear Nude.

5. exfoliate/moisturise regularly

When it comes to summer taking care of your skin especially your legs, as you are obviously going to be shaving/removing hair more often than you probably would in winter. Exfoliating your skin is super important as it reduces the chances of getting ingrown hairs, as well as any dead skin. Moisturise your skin straight after shaving, that is going to drastically reduce any irritation.

6. argan oil/oil's will be your best friend

Humidity can be a pain, especially on certain hair types (mine included) you can do your hair perfectly straight until you step out into the heat, then you look more like Simba from the Lion King. A simple trick to prevent/ease frizz is by adding Argan Oil to the lengths of your hair after washing and before styling. Argan Oil is really good for also keeping your skin super hydrated.

7. keep your feet feeling/looking fresh

Obviously in summer you are wearing sandals/having your feet on display a lot more than you would during winter. So keeping your feet and heels, looking/feeling fresh is a must and an easy way to keep the cracked heels away is to simply apply either vaseline or foot cream to your feet every night before bed.

 8. invest in a setting spray

Another great way of keeping your makeup in place all day long, is to invest in a good setting spray. You can apply a small amount before and after applying makeup to help lock it into place, as well as applying more through-out the day to freshen/re-hydrate your skin. Setting spray is a great way of avoiding applying layers and layers of powders, when touching up.

9. use more cream/liquid form products rather than powders

During summer wearing too many powder form products can feel super heavy on the skin, just like i mentioned with the whole using setting spray over powder for touch-ups. The products you can switch from powder to cream/liquid form are blush, contour and highlighter. Cream/liquid products once blended out, also look a lot more natural unlike some powders.

10. disguising those tan lines

Hate wearing a certain outfit that shows off a different outfits/swimsuits awkward tine lines? You can disguise/cover them instantly simply by applying a little moisturiser to the white line areas before applying a little self-tan to the same areas, making sure you blend it out of course to make it look as natural as possible.

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

BEAUTY FAVOURITES: JANUARY

Hello everyone! First of all can you honestly believe that today is the last day of January already? Even though this month is always seems to be the most depressing, i have still had a pretty great January for a change. Getting to the point seeing as tomorrow is the first day of a new month, i thought there would be no better way to end the current month by talking about my beauty favourites from the month of January.

mua luxe light lustre liquid highlight

Over the past year or so i have grew to become the biggest fan of liquid highlighters, as they can be used in so many different ways. You can apply them to the face as a base, add a drop or two into your foundation or simply apply a small amount to the highest points of the face and blend out with your finger or a beauty blender. Earlier in the month i did a full first impressions/review post on the newest MUA launch in their luxe range, this product might sound like a mouthful once said out loud but it is one that is a must-try and did i mention for such a stunning product it will only set you back £5? (currently on offer at Superdrug for £4). My go-to/favourite shade is the shade marvel, which is a really beautiful bronze-ish almost rose-golden shade. 

mario badescu drying lotion

This is a product that i have been using religiously when needed since just before Christmas, yet it is something i am yet to mention in a post until now. Back in December i had found my skin breaking out a little more than the odd one and i think it was down to all the festive food during that month. When i get a breakout it tends to stick around for longer than it is welcome, which is beyond annoying and it was time i did something about it. After hearing so many great reviews about this specific drying lotion by Mario Badescu, i finally decided to give it a whirl and i can now see what all the fuss is about as it is so effective and works quickly. All you do is first of don't be tempted to shake the bottle, dip a cotton bud into the solution then apply the to breakout and leave it over night to work its magic. The only down-side to this product is it absolutely stinks of a quite strong chemically smell, but you can't smell it for long and it does dry fairly fast.

l'Oréal elvive dream lengths no haircut cream

Unlike the drying lotion, this is actually a product that i have already mentioned a couple of times in two separate posts. This is something i have really been enjoying using on my hair whenever i wash it and i also noticed an instant result from after the first use, as my hair looked more healthy, shiny and reduced the appearance of any breakages i had. I also love how this is such a quick and easy product to use, as you don't have to wash it out unlike a lot of hair treatments. I highly recommend this to anyone who has long hair, as i do!  

rimmel 60 seconds nail polish in the shade lets get nude

Finally a nail polish that i have been wearing on my nails repeatedly this month and one that i talked about in a nail polishes i couldn't be without post. These nail polishes from Rimmel are perfect if you are feeling lazy or don't have time to wait for them to dry, as they dry in 60 seconds and come in this super shine finish which leaves you with that salon gel nail finish. The shade lets get nude is the post beautiful light pale-creamy beige nude colour, which is perfect for me as 95% of the time i always opt for a nude nail colour and i never get bored of this one. A similar alternative to this nail polish is essie's spin the bottle, which is my most worn nail polish.

Have a lovely weekend...

xo.

BEAUTY HACKS I SWEAR BY | PART ONE: MAKEUP + SKIN

Hello everyone! Through-out the years we have all discovered a hack or two that comes in handy and we have also learnt the hard way, that some don't work as well if not at all. That being said, after trying so many different hacks/tricks myself, i have found the ones that work well for me personally and i swear by using them on an everyday basis because they actually can make a huge difference. So for today's post i thought i would share part one to a little "beauty hacks i swear by" series, kicking things off with makeup and skin...

1. LINE UPPER LASH LINE TO MAKE LASHES APPEAR THICKER

If you are having one of those days where you either can't be bothered, don't have the time or don't want to wear false lashes but you still want your lashes to stand out. You can still achieve this quick and easily by simply applying some eyeliner or eyeshadow with an angled brush close to your upper lash line, it not only makes the lashes appear thicker but also makes your eyes pop more.

2. USE POWDER FOR A FAUX LASH EFFECT
Another great tip for creating that false lash look without actually wearing falsies, is to firstly curl your lashes before applying one coat of mascara. Next you are going to want to apply some translucent powder to your lashes before going in with another coat of mascara, by doing this is creates  thicker, fuller and longer looking lashes. I don't know how but i just know that this works so well!

3. DO YOUR EYESHADOW BEFORE YOUR CONCEALER

I have always done my makeup in a specific order, i like to do my foundation first before i do my eyeshadow, rather than going straight in with concealer and finishing my base before moving onto my eyes. By doing this you have created an even base but you can still go in with concealer to fix any mistakes or fall-out that might of occurred, as you haven't placed any powder yet on your face and therefore your makeup won't appear cake-y from placing a liquid on-top of a powder.

4. USE BRONZER FOR A QUICK EYESHADOW LOOK
Talking of eyeshadow a great alternative to applying eyeshadow, especially if you want a quick and easy eye look is to use your bronzer what you plan on using as part of your base makeup. I do this all the time, even more so if i am travelling that way you don't have to pack a ton of products. I always tend to take a bronze, blush and highlighter palette, this way everything is in one place and a lot more compact.

5. HOW TO GET GLOWING SKIN
Towards the end of last year i posted a similar type of post in the form of a beauty tricks that actually make a difference and in that post i touched on how to fake glowing skin. Through out the years we have probably all needed a helping hand with this now and again, me included and liquid highlighters, facial oils and strobe creams will definitely be your best friends. That being said you can also achieve glowing skin naturally, by following a few easy steps that i swear has helped for me. First of all make sure you are drinking 2+ litres of water a day, if you aren't a huge fan of plain water switch things up and add a little non sugar squash to the water. Next of all getting vitamins into your system is key, whether that be in tablet form, from fruits and vegetables. You could even kill two birds with one stone by getting your water intake and vitamins in one, in the form of a berocca which is full of b vitamins and folic acid.

6. CREATE A THERMAL FACE MASK IN SECONDS

Always heard that the benefits for your skin from a thermal face mask are amazing? but don't have a thermal designed mask in your collection or price range. You can create your own in seconds with one you already have, simply place the amount of product you would normally use into a microwave proof bowl and heat for 20-30 seconds making sure it doesn't over-heat or dry-out. Apply the now thermal face mask with an old yet clean foundation brush, sit back/relax and feel like you have taken a trip to the spa from home. 

Catch up on my previous blog post HERE...

xo.

MUA LUXE LIGHT LUSTRE LIQUID HIGHLIGHT

Hello everyone! In general i am definitely a self-diagnosed highlighter addict/hoarder, just as i am with any nude lip product. That being said for the past year or so i have become obsessed with using highlighter in liquid form, just as much as a powder finish and i have put a fair few to the test. Recently MUA launched a range of new liquid highlighters as part of their Luxe collection, which i have tried and loved so many products from before and therefor of course i just couldn't refuse giving this new launch a go.

If you saw my previous post talking about my 2017 beauty favourites then you will have probably read how last year was the year of the liquid highlighter for me (like i mentioned at the beginning of the post) and also how before then i had a fear of reaching for liquid highlighters, oh how things have changed and now i just can't put them down. I just love how a liquid highlighter can transform your face from looking matte/flat to looking naturally glowing and slightly dewy, it also couldn't be simpler to achieve by applying a small amount to the needed areas and blended out with a damp beauty blender/sponge. Liquid highlighters can also be used in several different ways other than straight to the area, such as mixed in with your foundation or applied before as a base and i tend to switch between these different methods.  

Moving onto my first impressions/review for the new MUA luxe light lustre liquid highlighters, which are available in three different shades and i have been putting two of them to the test between Christmas and New Year. When i first saw the packaging i was so shocked how beautifully chic and high quality it is for the price point, as they retail at £5 for 30ml of product (currently £4 at Superdrug saving £1). Just like a lot of liquid highlighters this particular one also comes with a pipette applicator, which was a winner for me as this one actually works perfectly unlike some i have tried previously. I love the combination of frosted glass bottle with the chic black font and gold accent on the pipette lid, which makes the product look like a £30+ more high-end type of product rather than drugstore/affordable. Beautiful packaging aside the product inside itself is simply just as beautiful, as the formula is highly pigmented yet lightweight feeling on the skin that blends out effortlessly and flawlessly. Unlike the usual powder highlight the finish of a liquid highlighter is more of a healthy glow, that looks natural and skin-like rather than overly shimmery and sometimes more obvious.

shop the shades:

| mua luxe light lustre in the shade marvel (rose gold) | mua store | superdrug |

| mua luxe light lustre in the shade sublime (gold) | mua store | superdrug |

| mua luxe light lustre in the shade opulence (pearl) | mua store | superdrug |

xo.

MUA HIGHLIGHTER HAUL

Hello everyone! So if you have read my posts in the past or you read them regular, then you will probably already know how obsessed/baffled at how good the mua undress your skin highlighting powders are for only £3 and so much so, i pretty much have every single shade now. Keeping that in mind, last week i was just browsing through social media and i saw a post from MUA with a picture of one of their new loose highlighters. So you know how it is you go on the site, put one thing in the basket and then a few other things, next thing you know you have eight new highlighting products through your door and i am not even sorry.

prism loose powder highlighter in the shade star illusion | £5 |

First up we have the highlighter that i was talking about, which i had seen swatched online and i thought how beautiful/different it looked, as it definitely has that "holographic" tone to it. I already love the loose gold highlighting powder from the brands luxe collection, so i am hoping that this just as beautiful as that one. I do have a feeling that this is going to be a very "extra" highlight, rather than your everyday natural looking glow that i would usually go for but sometimes it is good to step out of that comfort zone.

prism strobe cream in the shade golden ray | £4 |

Talking of comfort zones, this year i really came out of mine and became obsessed with more cream/liquid based highlighters/contour products, so i obviously had to pick up one of the two new strobe creams from the prism range. The shade i picked up is called golden ray, as i do prefer a more of a golden/bronze toned product over pinks. I am assuming that as this is called "strobe cream" that it is going to work in a similar way to the one from MAC, which i love and have gone through so many of. 

prism highlighter powder in the shade solar flare | £4 |

So i know i said above that i prefer golden/bronze toned highlighters over pink tones, but i really wanted to give this particular one a try because i think it would be really nice for a more subtle glow and this shade was definitely the most wearable one out of the five. I have a feeling looking at this that it is going to be quite similar to the LA Girl strobelite powders, which i love because they are super finely milled.

prism jelly highlight trio in the shade light spark | £5 |

Next up we have the final product i picked up from the new prism range and is one i am so intrigued by as it is a jelly formula, rather than a powder or a cream. It said in the description that this jelly formula is great for a dewy looking finish, which had me instantly sold and the face you get three highlighting shades for only £5 is such a bargain. I also think that the packaging on this one is my favourite out of all of the prism range.

luxe light lustre highlight duo in the shade majesty | £5 |

This highlighting duo is from the luxe range, which i have actually tried and loved so many products from this range (like the loose highlighter i was talking about above). What makes these different to the other highlighters is that these ones have a baked finish, that apparently makes the product velvet-soft for the ultimate radiance. Both of these things sold me instantly and the fact that this duo called majesty are more golden shades.

f8 fan brush | £3 |

Finally i deciding to pick up some new highlighting brushes, i have tried so many brushes from the brand over the years and i have never had any problems with them. So if you are looking for some affordable brushes, these and the freedom london brushes are both really good. This is a particular fan brush that i already own but i thought i would pick a spare up, as you can never have too many brushes right? I love fan brushes for applying highlighter, as the product just glides right onto the area and i find it so much more precise.

f7 small fan brush | £1.95 |

So as i mentioned i really like the regular F8 fan brush from the brand, so i decided to pick up the F7 which is a smaller version of the F8 and i just thought with would be good for getting slightly more precision or even simply to apply highlighter to the bridge of the nose and the cupids bow more precisely as well. Also the fact that this brush is such great quality for under £2, honestly just baffles me so much.

f11 highlighting brush | £2.50 |

Last but not least we have another highlighting brush, but this time i picked up one that i haven't tried before and that is the F11 highlighting brush. My reason for picking this brush up is because i thought it would be good for applying the loose highlighter with, rather than dipping a fan brush into a loose powder. Also i believe this is the brush that the brand used on the video clip for the highlighter, which looked like it worked well.

Catch up on my previous mua highlighter posts:

the £3 highlighters you need in your collection / powder highlight: golden glow / liquid glow under £7: barry m liquid glow and powder highlight combination

xo.

POWDER HIGHLIGHT: GOLDEN GLOW

Hello everyone! In my recent current everyday makeup favourites: base products post, i mentioned that i have been loving gold/bronze toned highlighters at the moment and i have also been trying out a couple of new ones. So i for today's post i thought i would share with you some of the gold toned powder highlighters, that i have been reaching for recently and a couple of them happen to be complete bargains.

mua undress your skin highlighter in the shade golden afterglow

This particular highlighter is a new edition to my collection, but i believe this shade was new in from mua earlier on in the year. The pigmentation on this highlighter is insane, especially as it only costs £3 from mua store online or superdrug. This particular shade golden afterglow, is the most stunning bronze/gold colour and even looks beautiful doubled up as a eye-lid shade, which i have been doing as well as applying it to my face. 

mua luxe glow beam highlighting powder in the shade gold

Another product from the brand mua, but this time from their luxe range and a range i am a huge fan of. As you can probably tell this product is so well loved the writing has started to come away from the packaging, as it is probably one of my favourite drugstore highlighters. Rather than your typical highlighter which tends to be pressed in a pan, this highlighter is loose and can be dispersed by simply twisting the pot slightly. This particular shade gold is literally what it says it is, a true gold toned finely milled highlighter for just £5.

makeup revolution skin kiss highlighter in the shade golden kiss

This highlighter is a new one to not only my collection but also from the brand makeup revolution, another bargain highlighter from the drugstore costing only £5 too. When i received this in the mail i was so shocked at how huge the pan was for the price/pigmentation of the product, yet again makeup revolution has amazed me. This particular shade golden kiss is a stunning light gold shade, great for people for pale/medium skin tones and the compact also contains a mirror, which always comes in handy right?

mac cosmetics extra dimension skinfinish in the shade oh, darling!

Finally we have the only higher end highlighter from the bunch, which happens to be the one i shared in that current everyday makeup favourites post and the one i have been obsessed with since i got my hands on it. I mentioned how originally this product was limited edition but thank the gods mac decided to make this a permanent shade, as it is literally the most beautiful pure metallic gold toned highlight that is a liquid-powder formula. This highlighter retails for £24.50 and can be purchased from mac or debenmhams. 

♥