Makeup Collection: Foundations

Hey everyone, I'm back with another post on my makeup collection and today I'm talking all about foundations. I've tried quite a few over the years but these are ones that I've found work well with my skin type.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

My go-to for a full glam evening look because it is such a full coverage foundation. It is very thick, and sometimes clings to any dry patches if I haven't moisturised properly. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a heavy foundation that gives a flawless finish, although it is quite pricey at around £30.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

This is definitely my go-to for everyday wear, it has such a light coverage that you forget you're wearing it. It claims to last for 16 hours, which I haven't tested but it definitely lasts a long time! It gives such a nice dewy finish and applies really nicely too!

Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation

A recent purchase that quickly became a favourite of mine. It has a matte finish, but doesn't stick to my dry patches which I love. It comes in a plastic bottle which is great for travelling with as you don't have to worry about it smashing in your bag. When I bought this, there wasn't many shades available but I think now they've released some more so I might have to try a different shade!

L'Oreal True Match Foundation
This foundation has been in my collection for such a long time! It's always the foundation I go back to, because it matches my skin tone so well. I'd definitely recommend this foundation to any makeup newbie. It has a medium coverage but is buildable so perfect for day to night looks!

So that's my favourite foundations, I hope you enjoyed reading! What's your favourite foundation? Stay tuned for my collection of blushers, bronzers and highlighters!

March Makeup Haul

I put myself on a strict spending ban just after Christmas and was doing really well right up until this month (oops). But today I'm going to share with you a few things I've treated myself to this month, I've also included a couple of items I was kindly gifted by a company!

L'Oreal Infallible Total Cover Concealer Palette

As soon as I saw everyone receiving PR packages from L'Oreal, I knew it'd be something good and that I had to have it. I swatched a tester in store and couldn't believe how smooth and creamy the formula was! I'm so excited to try this out but am slightly worried that it might be a bit oily on my skin, but we'll have to wait and see!

Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Bronze
Believe it or not, I only actually have 1 bronzer and that's a Makeup Revolution one. I thought it was about time I branched out a bit and opted for this Rimmel one. It has a slightly matte finish which I really like but doesn't give that 'dirty' look. I think this was only about £4 too so an absolute bargain!

Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

This palette is something I've wanted for ages but I've just never got round to buying. Now that I finally own it, I can't wait to create loads of different looks with it. I already have the blushed nudes palette which I LOVE so hopefully this one has the same creamy texture and blend-ability.

Maybelline Matte Me Powder 
After relying on my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte powder for the last 7 years, I thought I'd try something different. I did originally want to try the Fit Me powder but my local Superdrug didn't have my shade so I went for this one instead. As far as I'm aware, it's basically the same as the Rimmel one so I suppose I can't really go wrong since I love that one so much!

Makeup Revolution Chocolate & Peaches Eyeshadow Palette

Makeup Revolution have been at the centre of a 'scandal' recently with Kat Von D, and while this does have a lot of similarities to the Sweet Peach palette from Too Faced, I really like it. I think brands charge a stupid amount for their products at nearly £40 for an eyeshadow palette so this being £8 was right up my street!

I had a little 'pinch-me' moment not long ago when I was approached on Twitter to review some products, realising that I was actually getting somewhere with my blog. Now obviously it's not about all the affiliate links and free stuff, but that is a good bonus and shows that you've worked hard to get where you are.
I was asked by Lisa Blur London to pick a couple of their products to review so I picked out a gorgeous deep red lipstick and a dusky pink blusher.

Lisa Blur Xtreme Lipstick in Vino Noir

The lipstick shade is right up my street, if I'm not wearing a nude I'm wearing a dark red. It applies to the lips a bit lighter than I thought it would but is still a stunning colour. It's a matte lipstick but is super hydrating and lasts all day and night!

Lisa Blur Blush in First Blush
I really like the packaging of this blush, with it having a screw on lid. The shade is a really nice dusky pink with gold glitter, but it's not too intense that you sparkle all day. It is very pigmented and you barely need any on your brush when applying! I can already tell I'm going to be wearing this blush non-stop now that we're into Spring!

So that's all the makeup bits I've bought this month, I hope you enjoyed reading. I'd just like to say a quick thank you to Lisa Blur London for gifting me their products to review! What have you bought recently?

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Makeup Collection: Primers and Concealers

Hey everyone, I recently did a poll over on my Twitter to see whether anyone would like to see my makeup collection and the result was YES. So I've split everything up into groups and I'm going to be showing you all my favourite makeup items. First up in my mini series is primers and concealers. 

L'Oreal Infallible Mattifying Primer 

I use this primer on an almost daily basis, it's the first primer I found that works well with my skin and is a good price at around £10. It dulls out my oily patches without making my dryness go crazy which I love. It's also a drugstore dupe of the Smashbox one!

Smash box Photo Finish Primer

I originally bought this primer to test against the L'Oreal one after I heard they were basically the same and I must admit, they are very similar. They're both mattifying which is great for my combination skin. It's quite a bit more expensive at around £26 for 30ml but definitely worth it as it lasts a lot longer than the L'Oreal primer!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

This was probably the first concealer I bought, along with the foundation which I'm not a fan of, back when I first started wearing makeup. I love how much it brightens my under-eye area and lasts all day long, making me look fresh and ready to tackle anything life throws at me!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

As you may have read in my Blogging Made Me Buy It post, I'm not the biggest fan of this concealer but I can't bare to get rid of it. I really like the creamy formula, I'm just not a huge fan of the shade range usually resulting in me mixing two together to get the right colour. I can't really complain too much though as it's only about £3 which is a bargain for such a good product! 

Maybelline Anti-Age Eraser Concealer

This is quite a recent purchase of mine, and I only bought it cause literally everyone was raving about it. I can definitely see why there's a hype for this concealer but I'm not sure if I like the applicator. I've seen a few people take off the brush/pad thing, and just squirting it straight onto a brush which I might have to try. 

NYX Full Coverage Green Concealer

Without makeup, I constantly look like I'm blushing due to the huge red patches on my cheeks. When all this colour correcting stuff came out, I knew I had to try it. I apply this green concealer onto my cheeks before my foundation and usual concealer and it works wonders. I was a bit skeptical at first but it makes such a difference and I wouldn't be without it now!

So that's everything in my collection of primers and concealers, I'd love to know your favourites! Stay tuned for my favourite foundations!

Birchbox March 2017

Hello everyone, I hope you're well! I recently shared my thoughts on March's Glossybox, which you can read here. But today I have an unboxing/review of this month's Birchbox. This month, they're celebrating the original Birchbox, originally founded in the US over 6 years ago! The box arrived in a very plain kraft box which I really like, simple is sometimes better. So without further ado, let's get into the box!

Balance Me Instant Lift Primer £22

The first product in the box is this primer which is designed to smooth out any harsh lines or wrinkles while also making your skin look pore-less and more youthful. It's made with 99% natural ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and acacia gum which tightens the skin for a smoother finish. I noticed recently that Iv'e got quite large pores on my cheeks so I will definitely be trying this out to see if it helps to reduce them! 

Amika Style Extending Spray £20

First of all, this packaging is so groovy! This is basically a spray to protect your hair from the elements, keeping your perfect style intact and no frizz in sight! I'm one of those girls with such awkward hair that no style ever stays for more than an hour and I end up with a frizzy mess if it's even slightly humid outside so hopefully this works wonders for me! 

Korres Santorini Vine Shower Gel £8

Up next is a shower gel from Korres. Packed full of wheat proteins that moisturise while cleaning. It smells absolutely gorgeous, a very fresh scent which I always think makes you feel more clean. I think it has bit of a hefty price tag for a shower gel but I never usually pay more than £5. I can't wait to see if this is actually worth the money!

Bobbi Brown Multi-Mask Kit £33 each

The next products are sample sizes of face masks from Bobbi Brown. They even came in their own little pouch which I thought was super cute. Their all different so you can mix and match to target the areas that need it most. I have combination skin so I'll be trying to get rid of any oiliness with the Instant Detox mask, and get rid of my dry patches with the Skin Nourish mask. I think they're a bit pricey at £33 for one mask so I probably wouldn't repurchase but I'll definitely try them out to see if they work!

Benefit They're Real Double the Lip £16.50

I've definitely saved the best product till last and it is the new Double The Lip lipstick from Benefit. I was so excited when I saw this would be in the box and even more so when I got to pick the shade I'd receive. I opted for Lusty Rose instead of Pink Thrills and I'm so happy I did. The lipstick has a teardrop design with a lip liner (dark pink) and the lipstick (light pink) which makes it super easy to apply to your lips. It's not as pigmented as I thought it'd be and does have a sheer/satin finish but is a gorgeous shade! I'm so excited to try this out and see how long it lasts on the lips!

Overall, I'm very happy with this month's box, it features a good variety of products including that new release from Benefit. I'll be trying all these products out but I probably won't repurchase some of them since they are so expensive. But it'll be nice to see if they are worth the money.

I hope you enjoyed reading! If you like the look of these products and would like to subscribe to Birchbox, click here.
Until next time,

My Favourite Apps

As someone who is constantly on their phone, from the minute I wake up to the minute I go to bed, I'm always looking for new and exciting apps to try out. Today I have a list of my favourite apps which I'm currently obsessed with.

Twitter

Where do I even start with Twitter? I've found it's the best app for meeting new friends and also where most of my blog traffic comes from. I've made loads of blogger friends by taking part in Twitter chats, which are such a fun way to pass the time! In my opinion, it's the easiest to use out of all the social media apps around these days and is usually the first one I check in the morning.

Instagram

I'm usually more of a Instagram stalker than a poster, which definitely needs to change! It's perfect for finding inspiration for makeup look and blog post ideas. I've found it's quite hard to gain followers though because of the new algorithm and I hate that my feed isn't in chronological order anymore. It's great for sharing little snippets of your life and to promote your blog and it's posts which I think is great! 

Snapchat

Another app I hardly ever post on is Snapchat. I love using this to keep up to date with all the latest beauty events and celebrity activity. I'm constantly watching Khloe Kardashian working out, which is very sad I know. I love using Snapchat to take my selfies because it has so many cute filters, and sometimes I'll just have a look at the new filters and not even keep any of the photos!

Timehop

I have such a love/hate relationship with Timehop. It's great for reminding me of fun times I've had with friends but it's bittersweet cause I'm no longer friends with some people which is a shame. It also tells me how embarrassing I was on Twitter like 5 years ago, which I'd rather not be reminded of.

Buffer

This is the best app I've found for schooling posts on social media. I usually just use it for Twitter but it can be used for Instagram and Facebook too. You can add photos to posts, as well as tagging accounts and using hashtags. There's also the option to upgrade to a business account which gives you unlimited daily posts but I just use the free version.

Bloglovin

Bloglovin is a great app for keeping up to date with blogs. I usually use it on my iPad because it has a bigger screen, but it's the best way to read everything in one place. Apparently now it has a feature that lets you post directly to their site so I might have to try that out soon and see what it's like. I find it so much easier to use because it has everyone's blog on it, which saves so much time!

Spotify

OMG I love Spotify. I spend most of my time creating monthly playlists of my favourite songs and will probably have something for every mood. I pay for Spotify Premium which means no stupid ads after 3 songs, and at £9.99 a month, I don't think it's too bad. It's great for finding new music or even for jamming out to a bit of Backstreet Boys (cause who doesn't love a good 90's boyband) I'll usually listen to Spotify when I'm writing blog posts and while I'm working out. 

Hooked
Hooked is an app I only downloaded recently, which I discovered through Facebook. It's a story app but is shown through text messages which I've never seen done before! It has every topic you could think of, mystery stories are my fave. It's great if you want something to read on the go, and it gets updated everyday with new stories. I guess you could say I'm hooked! *eye roll*

That's all my favourite apps, what are some of yours?

Glossybox March 2017

Hey everyone, I hope you're all well! Last week I signed up for Glossybox after seeing a few girls on Twitter talking about it. I am still subscribed to Birchbox, which means you'll get two box reviews a month! 

From what I've seen, Glossybox is very similar to Birchbox in that you can create your own 'beauty profile' to get products that are tailored to you. It features everything from makeup to haircare and is only £10 a month! 

Oolution Eye Love Eye Cream £30

The first product I received is an eye cream from Oolution, a brand I've not heard of before. This cream is supposed to hydrate the skin and reduct dark circles and puffiness. I get dark circles quite badly so I'll definitely try this cream out but I highly doubt I'll be forking out £30 for the full size! 

This Works In Transit Camera Close-up Primer £30

Next up is a primer from This Works. I've tried a couple of things from this brand before and absolutely love their lavender sleep spray! This is a mask, moisturiser and primer all in one so perfect for travelling with to save space! Reportedly loved by Victoria Beckham so it must be worth a try!

Got2B Styling Primer £3

The next product is from Got2B and it's a hair styling primer. This gives your hair grip so it's easier to style, especially long hair. hen primed. I usually find it quite hard to style my hair into fancy plaits so I can't wait to try this out and see if it makes a difference!

Sleek Eye & Cheek Palette £10

Up next is a product I was super excited about. I received an email from Glossybox letting me know that in this month's box I would receive one of 3 eye and cheek palettes from Sleek. Unfortunately I didn't get to pick which palette I got but I'm happy either way as they were all gorgeous! I received mine in the shade 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and the colours are gorgeous! Perfect for a day or night look and I can't wait to get stuck in using this!

Fruu.. Watermelon Lip Balm £2.99

Last but by no means least is this super cute lip balm from Fruu, A brand I've never heard of before. A girl can never have enough lip balms in her handbag and with this one being watermelon scented, I can already tell I'm going to use it to death! It's also made with completely organic ingredients and is certified by PETA as cruelty-free and 100% vegan!

So that's everything in this month's Glossybox, I'm very happy with all the products I received and can't wait to see what's in next month's box! If you'd like to sign up to Glossybox, click here!
I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts, keep your eyes peeled for a Birchbox review very soon!

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How Much Is My Face Worth?

I've seen this post floating around the blogosphere quite a lot recently and thought I'd join in. I'm basically going to talk you through all the products I use on my face on an everyday basis and how much they cost to find the total of how much my face is worth. I don't use all of these products religiously, but these are the ones I reach for the most in the morning.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer - £12.50

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation - £7.99

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer - £5.49

Makeup Revolution Ultra Contour Kit - £8.00

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - £3.99

Benefit Sugarbomb Blusher - £24.50

Makeup Revolution Baked Highlighter - £3.00

Collection Eyebrow Kit - £3.99

Rimmel Brow This Way Gel - £3.99

MUA Undress Me Too Eyeshadow Palette - £4.00

Soap & Glory Thick and Fast HD Mascara - £10.50

Maybelline Gel Liner - £7.99

MAC Lipstick in 'Half n Half' - £16.50

Total - £112.44

I'm quite happy with that price to be honest! I think there's a good mix of drugstore and high-end products, and I didn't realise how much money I actually spend on makeup until now! Thankfully this tag doesn't include brushes or I'd probably be well on my way to a £200 total!

I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know how much your face is worth! I'd love to read your posts if you've done this tag!

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February Favourites 2017

I must admit, there haven't been a lot of things I've loved throughout February. I tend to find products I like and stick to them so finding new things to love is always hard.

BEAUTY

The first thing I've loved this month is the Zoeva Cocoa Blend eyeshadow palette. Ross surprised me on Valentine's Day with it and I love it! All the colours are gorgeous and so pigmented! I'd heard some really great things about this palette in the past so my expectations were a little high, but it meets all my standards and is a great versatile palette for day to night looks!

I've never been too bothered about my skincare routine, but the L'oreal Pure Clay face mask has completely changed my mind! I've been using it every 3 days and I've noticed such a difference in my skin already. It leaves my face feeling silky smooth and, fingers crossed, I haven't had any big breakouts lately which is always good news!

Something I bought towards the end of the month is the Shimmer Squad Highlighter Quad from Lottie London. After seeing loads of YouTubers using, I thought I'd try it for myself and if you know me, you know I love a good highlighter! It includes 4 shades so it's perfect for every skin tone, my person favourite is The Good Girl which is a gorgeous pink toned highlighter. I wouldn't say it rivals the ABH Glow Kits but at only £9.99, you can't go wrong!

 Another eyeshadow palette I've been loving this month is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette. I was a little late to the party, but I'm so glad I bought it. It did hurt to buy it since it cost £41 but it was definitely worth it! It's full of gorgeous warm berry shades and has so many combinations for looks. I've been using it non-stop, even for everyday looks which I didn't think I'd be able to do! Photos don't do it justice because it really is such a beautiful palette and I'd recommend it to anyone!

TV & FILM

One show I've binge watched to death is Archer. It's a Netflix original series and is based around the character Sterling Archer, who works as a secret agent. I think it's quite an old(ish) show but it's one that you can watch over and over without getting bored. I probably watched the first season in one night, which says a lot about how much spare time I have! If you're looking for a new series to watch and want one that will make you laugh a lot, then Archer is the one for you!

One film I've been obsessed with this month is, in my opinion, one of the best musical films around and that is Moulin Rouge. I only watched this for the first time about 4 years ago (please don't hate me) but I love musical films! It has such a good story, and Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman look so good together *heart eyes* I've watched it that much, I think I could recite the whole of the film now! If you haven't already seen it, what have you been doing with your life?!

MUSIC

The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This

JP Cooper - September Song 

The Vamps & Matoma - All Night

Imagine Dragons - Believer

Lana Del Rey - Love

Wilkinson & Matt Wills - We Will Be

Martin Garrix & Dua Lipa - Scared To Be Lonely

That's everything I loved in February, I hope you enjoyed reading! What did you love this month?

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