A Week In Lipsticks

Today I wanted to share with you my past week in lipsticks. Lipstick for me, brings a look together and makes my face look alive. Its also the product which I experiment with the most, my base and eyes normally stay pretty much the same, but I do tend to change my lipstick up quite a lot. It also gives you an idea of the colours I've been wearing on my lips at the moment.

Monday

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector 05 - On a Monday, I don't really want anything on my lips. I didn't really wear that much makeup on Monday as I was just chilling, catching up on things and then I did a workout in the evening. So I didn't want anything to heavy on my lips, just something that gives them a gorgeous natrual glow. 

Tuesday

Mac Mehr - This is probably my most worn Mac lipstick, I just love the shade, its that 'Kylie' lipstick in my eyes, that browny/pink. Again, Tuesday I didn't have much on apart from I went to get my eyelashes and brows done and I popped into town for some shopping. So I did want a little bit of colour on my lips, but nothing to over powering.

Wednesday

No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in delicate pink - 'On Wednesdays we wear Pink!' I wore this shade a lot last spring, because it really is that perfect spring pink colour. Its very shiny, almost glossy, so it very moisturising, but does need applying every 2 hours I would say. But it really is that spring pink colour.

Thursday

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm - I have been loving this nude shade for a while now, I did quite a lot of eye makeup on this day, so I wanted something quite minimal on my lips. I love the formula of these lip creams, they are not drying at all, but do have quite good staying power.

Friday

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipsticks in 45 - This is a beautiful pinky/nude shade. Rimmel have amazing lipsticks with really great colour choices. I find they last quite a long time, even though they are not matte at all. This shade just gives a gorgeous sheen to the lips, without being too much. 

Saturday

Mac Liptensity in Doe - I love this lipstick so much! It's a new lipstick range by Mac, its very moisturising on the lips and has amazing colour pay off. Literally one swipe of this lipstick will do you for the day. Doe is a very neutral, browny/peachy lipstick, if that makes sense. Its quite similar to NYX Stockholm. 

Sunday

No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Soft Cherry - On Sundays I did actually make quite a lot of effort with my makeup, I went out for a meal and a had a day out with my boyfriend. Soft cherry is a reddy/pink shade. I think its great if you feel very conscious when you wear a red lipstick, it's a lot softer than red, so I think it's a great colour to have in my collection. 

♥

5 Bases: I Always Go Back To

For me, foundation is the most important part of my makeup. Its the part that I feel like if I get it right, then the rest of my makeup follows. So I'm going to talk you through 5 foundation bases which are my absolute favourites! 

MAC Studio Fix Fluid 

Lets start with probably my most all time favourite. If I had to choose one foundation forever, it would be this one. This foundation just makes my skin look amazing, and flawless. I do have three bottles of this stuff, because I'm just too scared to run out. I did actually loose this foundation a couple of months back, and thats when I actually realised I couldn't live without it. So I purchased another one, then found the one I lost. The shade I use is NC15, however, I do have another shade which is more pink toned, so really not my shade, but I do sometimes use it, and mix it in with another foundation. But NC15 is just the best shade match for me. I could ramble on about this foundation forever, but its a full coverage and a matte finish. It's incredible. 

Estee Lauder Daywear BB cream

This is the lightest coverage foundation/BB cream in this post. But its amazing, I just it more in the summer months, however I do use it in the colder months too but just if I want more of a natural look, and I'm not really doing much, I reach for this one. Sometimes I do mix it with another foundation, which is coming soon... 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua 

This is the foundation that I mix in with the BB cream, together they just make the perfect shade and give a lovely dewy natural finish. Vitalumiere Aqua, just makes your skin look perfect but it doesn't have a lot of coverage, its a light to medium I would say. It's amazing packaging to travel with. Its expensive, but its Chanel at the end of the day, and it really is incredible. 

No7 Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation 

No7 is a brand that makes foundation easy, they  have a machine which matches your skin tone to the right shade. I am the shade calico, which is a perfect shade for me when I have no fake tan on. I use this foundation more in the summer months, because it is a lighter coverage. But its really light on the skin, and is a very natural finish. 

No7 Stay Perfect Superlight and Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, are very simular in packaging and in formula. I would say for me, the Chanel is more pigmented, so you don't need as much of it. But I didn't really notice until I was taking these pictures, how similar they actually are! Obviously the No7 foundation is a fraction of the price, so I would say try that one first, see if you like it, then you could try the Chanel one. 

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hours

Okay, so I think its fair to say I love my highend foundations, but I couldn't leave this one out. I would say this is just my go to drugstore foundation. Rimmel foundations on a whole are very good (apart from my recent review) *sad face*. This is a very full coverage, but its not matte, its more of a satin finish. Its really easy to blend, the colour match isn't too bad, however, it is extremely hard to match yourself in the drugstore. It's a very nice foundation, and excellent for the money.

 ♥

My Guide To Mascaras

Oh hello there MONDAY! I'm sure you are all having a lovely day, with it being a bank holiday. Unless you do have to go to work, and that sucks. But today, whilst you are reading this I am currently with my boyfriend, in a city near/ish where we live, Cardiff.

In the drugstore and on premium counters there is just so much choice when it comes to makeup, it can all seem very stressful, because you want to choose the correct and most beneficial product to you. I know from my experiences I just don't know where to start.

Mascara is one of the most popular makeup items, I would say. Most people, of any age want lovely full, lifted and defined lashes. Wether it's a partner, or just a friend, eyes are where most conversations start, so you want your eyes to look as beautiful as you can.

You need to ask yourself two questions when picking a mascara, and then I will help you with the rest... "what do you want from your mascara?" (eg; length, volume, definition, lift/curl). Your answer is probably "well I want a bit of everything" Oh, you greedy thang! Some mascaras do claim to say that they do all of the above, when really they don't. I haven't ever tried a mascara where I get everything out of it. But thats okay, because most of the time you don't want everything, because it really is impossible, and they do kind of counteract each other.
The other question you need to ask yourself, is "which kind of brush do you prefer, plastic or bristles?" I prefer to go for a bristled brush, because I find it much softer on the lashes.

Length - A lengthening mascara will give you the most natural lashes, they will just be extended to look longer. These mostly come in plastic brushes, they are very thin and have very small bristles to really get close to the lash and extend them. L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara, is great for lengthening the lashes, it has lengthening fibres in to build the intensity.

Volume - This is probably the most common form of mascara, that most people want to achieve (I love having a lot of volume). However, some people are scared of having volume because they think  there lashes will just become clumpy and stuck together. This really isn't the case, having clumpy lashes is just from the amount of layers that you apply, or your mascara wand might just need some product removed from the brush. Mascaras that give volume, are brushes which are quite big, the biggest wand will give you volume, they come in plastic and bristled wants. Maxfactor Masterpiece Transform Mascara is great for volume, it builds on the lashes to give amazing big lashes.

Definition - This is very similar to length, the brush tends to look the same, however it will state on the mascara if its for definition. Most mascaras that give definition do give some length as well, it gives a very natural lash. But having definition is lovely, it really separates each lash and gives you the illusion of having lots of lashes which are very neat and tidy. Plastic brushes with lots of bristles, are best for definition. Estee Lauder Sumptuous Knockout Defining Lift & Fan Mascara, gives lovely defined lashes with a lovely lift.

Lift/curl - This is pretty much the same, the brushes for lifting and curling are probably the most recognisable brushes. They have a curve on them, which when placed to the lash (curved side facing you) really lifts the lashes, and therefore curls them. If you have quite straight lashes, this might be the mascara type for you. Again, they come in both bristled and plastic wands. No7 Dramatic Lift Mascara, this is my everyday mascara. It lifts the lashes and gives you a wide awake effect.

Most mascaras come in the shade 'black' and thats all, however you can get 'brown/black' mascaras which are just a little bit more subtle and softer, and is a nice alternative to black. If you don't wear a lot of makeup, 'brown/black' mascaras are good for you.

I touched on it earlier, (lift/curl) but if you have very straight lashes, or you just find after a few coats of mascara, your lashes are becoming straight and droopy. Eyelash curlers are needed, they really help. It's not as scary as you think either.

- Curl your lashes before you apply your mascara
- Start at the root of your lashes
- Apply pressure to your lashes, in short motions for around 5 seconds
- Make sure all along your lashes are curled
- Repeat if you need more curling (don't go overboard)

I am spoiling you now, but heres a few extra tips which can help you achieve the best application for your mascara. They might seem obvious, but I thought I would include them anyway:

- Don't pump your mascara wand to get extra product. This will get air into the mascara, which makes it dry up quicker, also will create bacteria in the mascara!
- Start at the root of your lashes, and 'wiggle' up to create your desired effect.
- Most people apply two coats, in between coats, allow 30 seconds. So it's not so wet.
- Tilt your head back when applying mascara to the top lashes and forwards when applying to bottom lashes. This will help minimise mistakes.
- If you do make any mistakes then just remove straight away with a dry cotton bud (wet will remove makeup).
- Using a smaller mascara for bottom lashes, will help you make less mistakes Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara. 
- If you are finding you are having a 'bad mascara day' then apply some mascara just to the tips of the lashes, this will help to separate lashes if they are getting all clumpy.


I hope this was helpful, just look on the packaging for what the mascara does, have a look at the brush and you will soon know what you want from your mascara. Ask for advice in store too, store assistants are happy to help, and thats what they are there for!

Rimmel Volume Colourist 

L'Oreal False Lash Architech (waterproof) 

No7 Dramatic Lift

MaxFactor MasterPiece Transform 

Urban Decay Perversion 

Lancome Hypnose Drama 

♥

Summer Staples

I thought I would share with you some of the products which shout out 'SUMMER' to me. Products which I use more in the months when its hotter and products which are basically more suited to summer, wether it be because of the colour, consistency or just the type of product.

Summer basically shouts out to me, bright colours, light wear foundations, dewy/glowy/bronzed skin, bright nails and a lovely plump lip. So all of these products to me I just absolutely love and I believe are just perfect for the warmer months. 

No7 Naturally Sunkissed Gradual Facial Tan

MaxFactor GlossFinity Nail Varnish - 119 Forever Glam

Barry M Gelly - Huckleberry

Rimmel 60 Seconds - Coralicious 

Barry M Coconut Infusion - Aloha

Revlon - 715 Privleged

No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour - Cheeky Chops

Barry M Speedy Quick Dry - Pole Position 

Sleek Highlighting Palette 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

MAC Impassioned 

Soap & Glory Matte Lip - Pretty Muted

Revlon ColourBurst Matte Balm - 210 Unapologetic 

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Ibiza

Clinique Moisture Surge Gel

The Body Shop Indian Night Jasmine Body Butter

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

Dove Derma Spa Summer Revived Body Lotion 

Estee Lauder BB Cream

NYX Dewy Finish Spray 

All of the products that I've mentioned are just my summer staples, some are new products I have loved and others are ones I crack out each year. If you want me to go in depth about a product, maybe a review or just a quick explanation of why I love it so much, drop me a comment and for sure I will get back to you! Thank you so much.

♥

Disappointing Products #1

If I'm completely honest with you, I rarely get any products that I am disappointed with because I like to research, read blog posts, reviews, watch videos, I think you get the idea... However, there are some products which some people love and I thought 'oh yes, I like the sound of that!' and then purchased it, and ended up hating it. So heres some of those products here...

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Eyeshadows 
These are so stunning, and I used them probably once, and I was impressed they are very pigmented, easy to blend and this is the product that I would call 'buttery' yes, that blogger saying, I've done it. But they are so buttery, that they actually break and crack to the point where you can't really use them anymore. I firstly picked up the shade nude 206 and I used it and it cracked. I loved the pigmentation and the eyeshadow so much, I just thought it was a one off and I must of dropped it or it got crushed in my makeup bag. So I decided to try another shade, so I went for matte 107 (I hope these are the shade names) and literally the same thing happened again, it cracked, broke and just crumbled everywhere. Whilst taking these pictures, my hands are just full of crumbled eyeshadow. Which is just a shame because the eyeshadows I was impressed with, but the formula and how they last just aren't good, and I wouldn't recommend buying these.

Maybelline the Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara 
Theres a couple of reasons why I don't like this mascara; 1; the packaging just looks so cheap, and I just don't like the red and pink together. Also I thought there was two ends, but there actually is just the one. 2; The brush, it's a plastic brush (which I don't get on with normally anyway) but this just holds loads of product. 3; The way it makes my lashes, they just look ridiculous, all clumped together, literally into one lash. I like the other falsies mascara from Maybelline, and on a whole volume and that 'clumpy' lash look is what I love, but this was just too much and I didn't get on with it at all.

Models Own Eyelash Curler 
Out of all these products, I think this is the one which I hate the most. I have only ever tried this from Models Own, but I have heard great things about their nail varnishes. However, this eyelash curler, just isn't the one. I picked it up, because I had heard using an eyelash curler helps with the curl, keeps the lashes looking upright and beaut. This one, actually doesn't grip the lashes, looks really cheap and at one point some of my eyelashes came out. This is when I just threw it in a box and thought I will have to write a 'disappointing products post' so this eyelash curler is the reason this post is made.

No7 Beautiful Skin Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover 
This isn't the worst product, but I did find myself thinking 'is that it'. I just found it didn't really do much, I applied some product onto a cotton pad, and swept it over my eyes to remove my eye makeup. But it didn't really do anything, and it took quite a while to remove the makeup. I think this is because it is oil-free, and there is another version of this product, which looks more blue and is really good. So I would recommend using that instead of this. I do still use this product, just over my face to remove a bit of makeup as I don't really just want to throw it away.

Real-Techniques Bold Metals Brush - 301
This brush is for contour I believe. I purchased it when the bold metals collection came out, and I was just getting into contouring (I'm still not very good). But I just find this brush a bit too dense, and like the product doesn't blend very well. However, I do love Real-Techniques, they are my favourite brush brands and this is the only brush I haven't got on with. I will still keep it though, because of the gorgeous packaging (it just sits in with my brushes and looks pretty - lame).

I hope this post has helped you, if you are/were going to buy any of these products. Like I said at the start the majority of the products I buy I love and use on a daily basis, these are just a few of the products I haven't liked or got on with. Please do let me know in the comments if I am using any of these products wrong, or if you love any of these! Also, a tiny disclaimer... All of the brands in this post, I have nothing against them and I have loved pretty much everything else from them, apart from Models Own because I never have tried anything else from them. But I really want some of their nail polishes!!

♥

Products I've Used Up: Number 2

I really liked writing the last one of these, basically when I use a product up, I keep it and then write about it and also give you a mini review on it. I do like to use products up wether I like them or not, because I like to try them fully out and plus I don't want to waste my money!

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Spray

This is my favourite heat protection spray, it makes your hair so soft and smooth as well as protecting it from the heat, PERFECT. It's got that classic Tresemme smell, there is also a corresponding shampoo and conditioner, which I have got because I love this heat protection so much. But I would say if you are gunna get one of them, the heat protection spray is the way to go!

No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick - Loganberry

You would of seen this lipstick in one of my first posts, which is very embarrassing so please don't go back through them all, haha. I will just ramble on here about this colour... its the most perfect berry shade, its matte, it lasts all day, and I really do mean all day, the formula is insane and one of my favourite types of lipsticks. It is also quite rare that I do finish a lipstick, because I've got so many and there are just so many amazing colours in the world, but I did have to repurchase this shade when it ran out, and I am half way through my new one, so I think that tells you something...

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder

I was honestly obsessed with this stuff because it's the perfect shade if you are on the paler side. I've just checked the shade, and I've got translucent, but I do think it adds coverage and some colour thats why I think its good for fair skin. The packaging is very good for travelling and its got a mirror.

Avon Advanced Techniques Daily Shine Hair Serum

This is a product which I use every time I wash my hair, I just put it in the mid-end lengths of my hair, and it adds shine and makes my hair feel smooth. Its great if your hair is dry and damaged, it just makes it feel so much better.

Aussie Shower Smoothie Body Wash

In this case, I think this is 'leave worst until last' I just really didn't see the point in this. I didn't feel clean when I used it, it's one of those nice scented shower gels that doesn't do anything. Its supposed to make the skin smooth, hence the name 'shower smoothie' but for me it just did nothing. The packaging is nice and yes it does smell nice. But also it's like £5 for a shower gel from the drugstore, I just wasn't impressed and wouldn't repurchase.

Hopefully this helps you, if you were thinking about trying any of these products. I normally do like most things that I purchase because before buying I do normally research it a lot and read posts and articles just like this one!

♥