Spring Wishlist

My wishlist is never exactly empty, but lately for spring there is just so much out there that I had to compose a list. A lot of these are products which I have heard so much about that I feel I ought to try them, such as Sleek's brow kit which is so popular that it is almost always sold out, and the Stila palette which I have been putting off getting because let's face it, I don't really need it, but it would be so pretty for spring! Above all, I am absolutely in love with this tropical dress, I think it is just so perfect for this season and it makes me so excited for summer just looking at it. As for the make-up items, there is always something I have my eye on and above all is this beautiful nail polish which just screams spring, and the Rita Ora collection for Rimmel is just gorgeous. I am also thrilled to learn that Next now stock NYX which is fantastic if your like me and have wanted to try their hyped up products for ages. As for more lip products, I have swatched the shade 'in love with ginger' so many times and each time I just think it is the perfect orange-toned red which is so apt for summer, and I can't wait to try out some of Tanya Burr's lip glosses, this shade being particularly lust worthy.

1. Sleek brow kit, £8.49
2. Stila 'In The Light' shadow palette, £25
3. Barbie tee, Forever 21, £10.50
4. Tanya Burr lip gloss in 'Picnic in the Park', £6.99
5. Topshop Island print dress, £32
6. Beyonce Surfboard sweater, $65
7. NYX lip gloss in 'beige', £6 available at Next
8. Rimmel 60 seconds Rita Ora nail polish in 'Breakfast in Bed', £3.69
9. Rimmel moisture renew lipstick in 'In Love With Ginger', £6.49

xox

Current 'Holy Grail' Products

So seen as I have been M.I.A for a seriously long time, I feel like a post on my current favorites is more than overdue. Instead of doing an explicit favorites post, these are a select few items which I literally could not be without in my make-up bag; all items which I would repurchase over and over again, so-called 'holy grail' products if you like. I have been using all of these for at least 3 months, hence I have thoroughly tested them and can honestly vouch for them.

Let's start with the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. I got this at Christmas as a gift and I was literally so overjoyed. I was desperate to do a post on it and share my love but without a camera or a phone with a flash, that was pretty difficult. I am sure by this point everybody is sick and tired of hearing how amazing the much anticipated Naked 3 palette is and I'm fairly confident that the majority of bloggers/YouTubers out there own this thing and already know how wonderful it is, but if you haven't got your hands on it yet, what are you waiting for?! The quality of these shadows is unparalleled which I am sure goes without saying, one swipe offers super strong pigmentation and incredible staying power, which for £37 for 12 shadows, in comparison with around £12 for just one MAC shade, is a no brainer. It truly is as good as people say and I must have used it more or less every day I've worn make-up since I got it, evening or daytime. It is simply the most stunning palette ever, and my favorite out of the three of them by a country mile. Shortly after Christmas I brought the Naked 2 to complete my set as I heard that it was many people's favorite out of the three, but for me this is my perfect palette. Literally if I had to customize my own palette, i'm pretty sure it would look something like this, pink and sparkly, yet surprisingly wearable. Out of the 12 shades, all but 3 are shimmery, but the 3 matte shades are all you need to create the perfect smoky eye. Although the pinkness of the palette might put some people off, the shades are so muted and neutral that they are extremely wearable, yet they add such a unique element to your make-up look which makes you look refined and polished, with an edge. I find this is a really sophisticated day-time look; my favorite day-to-day is to use limit across the lid, then blend nooner into the crease, finished with strange in the inner corner and brow bone. It is by no means overpowering or too heavy, yet it seriously adds something to the everyday face with such minimal effort. As for the evening, my favorite is to do pretty much the same but with blackheart blended into the crease for a more dramatic and glamorous look. I will be doing posts soon featuring my favorite looks from this palette, so stay peeled for that! 

Before I forget that this post is not just about the Naked 3 palette, I'll move on to the best bronzer ever. This is the Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder from The Body Shop, and it is seriously the best one I've ever tried, so much so that I find it impossible to go back to anything else. The thing that makes this so wonderful is how incredibly natural it makes you look, literally giving you the feeling of having just been in the natural sun. It comes in 4 shades, and I have the third one, yet even the fourth shade is not too dark. This bronzer is completely matte which is perfect for contouring, and literally a beautiful tan color which never looks orange. Unless you have super fair skin, I would recommend going for shade 3 which isn't too dark at all; no matter how much you apply, it still just looks like that perfect after-holiday tanned glow. I've almost hit pan on mine now which is exciting because I never normally love bronzers as much as this, and at £13 I think this is totally worth it. 

My favorite blush these days is the Rose Gold blush from Sleek, which as you can see in the image above, is super beautiful. To me, this just screams spring/summer. It is a pinky peach tone with golden flecks of shimmer, a shade which I only whip out normally this time of year. The pigmentation of Sleek blushers is unreal, the best I have tried from the drugstore for sure. Due to the highlighting effect which is super pretty in the daylight, highlighter is not necessary, yet unlike a lot of blushers that have shimmer, this still retains that pop of color which makes it an absolute steal at just £4.49. 

My favorite lipstick not only right now, but possibly ever (big claim I know), is the Collection Deluxe lipstick in 02 Talullah. I wear this literally every day. It is the perfect every day pink, your lips but better shade. I whack this on no matter what make-up I have on purely because I know it will go beautifully. Not only in the day, this goes stunningly with a dramatic smoky eye, I particularly love wearing this with my nighttime take on the Naked 3 palette. The formula of these lipsticks is seriously a winner, another favorite of mine during the winter holidays was prohibition from the same line, they are super nourishing and smooth, creamy and pigmented which is a rare combination which reminds me very much of MAC cremesheen lipsticks. At £3.99, this is an absolute gem. And they smell wonderful which always makes me happy!

Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer is the best concealer ever. I'm actually convinced, and I don't want to even try others which are undoubtedly much more expensive, purely because this works so well, and at just £4.19 it is seriously under priced! I have been using this for so long now, I have the lightest shade for under my eyes which is so good at brightening and concealing dark circles, and then I have the second shade for any redness/blemishes/scars and all that nasty stuff. If you haven't tried this yet go for it, I swear you won't need to use another concealer again. 

I am also pretty sure that I have found my favorite mascara. This is a big deal because I must change my mascara every time one runs out. It is Max Factor's Masterpiece Max High Volume & Definition Mascara. The length this gives my lashes is seriously unbeatable, so much so that numerous people think they are false, totally worth it for £9.99. This tube is running out and I will be repurchasing it for sure. 

Another great discovery is Maybelline's Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara. I always used to just use clear mascara to shape and keep my brows intact, but this is so much better because not only does it do this, but it adds a tiny bit of color to make them more defined and set my powder in place. Such a winner at £4.99 as well!

Finally, I went back to my old favorite liquid eyeliner. I had been using gel for a while but I found it more smudgy and messy to work with, whereas I find liquid liner more slick and sophisticated, with better staying power. My all time favorite is Collection's Fast Stroke eyeliner. Wow, Collection are seriously on it because this stuff is insane. It is blacker than black, thick and totally opaque. You don't have to keep building it for intensity, just a few swipes and you have the perfect cat eye. This is actually what helped me learn how to perfect liquid liner due to the super precise nib which is the perfect thickness and really easy to control. If you are a beginner at liner or if you just find it tricky, seriously grab your hands on this! At £2.99, I will be buying this for life.

XO

February Favourites

Hey guys!

I'm very excited to be doing my first ever monthly favorites post! I know how popular they are on the blogging circuit and enjoy reading them a lot myself; they are a great way of finding out which products are worthy of testing and repurchasing again and again, a great excuse for buying more products because of how amazing they are! This month I have been reaching for the same products over again, some newly purchased ones and others which I have simply rediscovered. These are products which I honestly can't recommend enough and are true staples in my beauty kit. Hope you enjoy this new kind of post!

Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine- this has been a firm favorite of mine ever since I tried it a few weeks back, but I have been using it non stop this month. The reason this is better than the average lip balm is due to its consistency, its a butter as opposed to a balm therefore it really moisturizes your lips a lot better, just like a body butter would do to your skin. There are other flavors available but this one is my favorite as it smells incredible. I will definitely have to repurchase this again as mine is quickly running out! You can see my full review on it here. 

Soap & Glory Hand Food- For some reason my hands have been particularly dry lately, so I have been reaching for this all the time. First of all, it smells unbelievable just like all the other products by Soap & Glory- one of the reasons I love them so much! If you haven't smelt it I would strongly advise you do. What's more, it does the job perfectly and helps keep hands permanently smooth if you apply frequently enough.

Urban Decay Naked Palette- I simply could not have a favorites post and not include this. I've used this trusty old palette for literally every party I've been too, especially this month, and the lighter shades are great for creating natural everyday looks. There are so many looks you can create, it is such a versatile investment that I would seriously recommend. I don't know how I coped without this for so long as it instantly became one of my favorite beauty products ever! All my other eye shadows have been seriously neglected ever since this came into my life. Enough said, you can read my in-depth review here. 

No7 Lash & Brow Perfector- Recently I have been trying to grow out my brows slightly, so this brow gel has really been indispensable, particularly in taming those unruly hairs (typically just above the arch). I apply this just after grooming them, and before filling them in with powder. It is great for perfecting your ideal shape, and makes it easy to fill them in as you follow your natural shaping. It keeps them in place, yet it doesn't stiffen them too much that they look unnatural. You can view my brow perfecting guide here. 

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara- This is a product that I forgot I had completely so stopped using it for a while. I rediscovered it the other day, thinking it was used up, but to my surprise it was still usable so I have been using this ever since. I really love the brush to this because it has an anti-clump wiper so you don't get that overdone, clumpy and fake look which can be common with many mascaras. It therefore creates really long, but separated even lashes with an ultra black coating. The brush is also really handy for bottom lashes which is great, the MAC mascara I normally use has a brush which is so big that I have to use a different mascara for the bottom lashes. Great mascara, I would particularly recommend and L'Oreal mascara if your on the hunt for a new one. 

Eylure 'The Chelsea Look'- Before using these lashes putting on false eyelashes was an absolute pain. These ones by Eylure are super easy to apply; they go on really smoothly without pinging up either side which can be so annoying! This particular lash style is probably my favorite lash, I only wear them for going out in the evening because they are quite dramatic, however not so much as to look overpowering or fake. They are my go-to party lash, instantly adding drama to your eyes and making them appear much bigger. 

 Real Techniques Expert Face Brush- This is a brush which I brought last week and ever since, this has truly enhanced my foundation and made application so much quicker and easier. I love the roundness of this brush for applying a flawless base as I previously used an angled brush, however this gives you the chance to really buff the product into the skin in a circular motion, getting into every crevice in the skin thereby giving you better coverage and a more radiant appearance. I think almost every beauty blogger owns these brushes, and I can see why! They really create that flawless base which transforms your whole look. Having the base sorted is what I think is the most crucial stage of make-up application; it just makes your skin look fresher and more radiant if you have your foundation buffed in beautifully. 

Sleek Blush in Pomegranate- This is another product which I rediscovered this month as I had been so used to using my trusty Rimmel Pink Rose. That however, sadly ran out so I found this. The colour looks a little garish and scary straight from the pan, however this creates the most pretty effect on the skin. The rich purple shade is actually quite soft if you only apply a small amount, and it also leaves a slight shimmer to the skin.  New favorite blush for sure, and what's more is that it suits all skin tones so is a great staple blush. 

 (Celestial)

(Waterlily, Rebel, Celestial)

No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Waterlily- This is basically a gorgeous, everyday muted bright pink. It is a really wearable shade so I have been wearing this constantly, it goes with every look so it is a great one to have in your everyday make up bag. 

MAC's Rebel Lipstick- I love this shade so much. You can check out my previous post for a full review, but this is essentially my favorite lipstick ever. It is the most beautiful dark pink, to purple shade with a Satin smooth finish. It creates a great statement for an evening out, instantly drawing attention to you. Furthermore  MAC lipsticks are super great quality with excellent pigmentation meaning they stay put for the entire night, not something every brand can boast about. 

Rimmel Apocalips in Celestial- This is probably my favorite February favorite. I purchased this last week and have been wearing it almost every day since. I had been dying to get my hands on them ever since, because so many beauty bloggers have raved about them. If you haven't heard about them they are are glossy formula, yet they still manage to contain the same pigmentation as a lipstick. This means they have really great staying power which is unusual for a regular gloss. This however is by no means a regular lip product, as it somewhere in between the two best formulas. There is also none of that dreaded hair and gloss sticky mess as these are completely nonstick! Celestial is the perfect shade for me, a gorgeous neutral pink which is perfect for every day. If you haven't tried them, go try them now. 

What products have you been loving this month?

xxxx

How to be a Heartbreaker- Valentines Day Make-up look

Hey guys! I would just like to apologize in advance for the length of this post- but this is one of my favorite make-up looks ever and I can't wait to share it with you. Its also very theme appropriate seen as its Valentine's day tomorrow, its a great look to wear wherever and whoever you will spend it with. Marina and The Diamonds is one of my favorite music artists ever, and her make-up in her video for 'How to be a Heartbreaker' is absolutely divine. She has a few looks in the video but the one I recreated is my personal favorite (above). It is actually quite a simply look with the main focus being the eyes (hence the following abundance of eye closeups!) paired with neutral pink lips and bronzed skin. 

For the all important eyes I used my Urban Decay Naked original palette, which has become a firm favorite in my make-up kit (see my full review here). When using this palette only I also know that I don't have to use a primer underneath as the eye shadows seem to really stay place on me, however of course, if they don't I would recommend a primer. First take the lightest colour, 'Virgin' which is such a beautiful pale pink, off-white shimmery highlighter. Apply this across the entire lid, right up to the brow bone as we want particular shimmer here. Then apply a slightly darker shade, 'Sin', in the middle of the lid to add a bit more depth here and create an illusion of a bigger eye, a good trick also if you have hooded eyes like me. Then I mixed together a bit of 'Sidecar' and 'Hustle' and placed this on the outer corner and through the crease. I took this higher than my usual crease as this is how Marina wears it in this shot, which further creates the illusion of a much larger eye. You should therefore take 'Hustle' quite high up and into the crease, quite deep into the socket. The next step is to blend, A LOT. When you wear quite a heavy eye make-up like this, it is best to have a few clean brushes handy so you can switch. If you carry on using one with a lot of product on this will just smudge as opposed to blending. Also keep a tissue handy so you can wipe off the excess product, saving you from using a lot of brushes which not everyone may have. Once this is blended enough to look fairly soft, take Virgin again on the brow bone to blend into the darkest colour, and take a fair bit into the tear-duct to accentuate and brighten the eye, making the look a lot softer.Then find a narrow brush and, blending together 'Hustle' and 'Sidecar', take under the eye halfway and blend. This is the shadow part done, now you need to take your favorite gel eyeliner as this is one of Marina's staples. Try and get your line as thin as possible, with the line slightly thicker in the center to follow the natural shape of your eye. Then wing out slightly to a point, joining up with your bottom lash line. You can also use a brown kohl pencil to line your bottom waterline. Then apply absolute lashings of mascara, particularly on your lower lashes as this is a real feature of Marina's look. She wears individual false lashes on the lower lash line, however I have tried to create this effect using mascara. I then took some MAC lashes that I cut slightly shorter than the usual lash length to just attach to the end of the eye and create a flared, winged out look, as Marina's top lashes are not overly heavy. Team this with super defined, dark strong brows like Marina's and keep them in shape with some brow gel. 
Finally, use the gel liner to create Marina's signature heart on your left cheek if you wish!

Finish off the look with sculpted cheeks and an all over bronzed glow using the excess on your temples, forehead and nose. Then use a super pretty pale blush to add a slight dash of colour- Sleek's Pixie Pink is perfect for this. Skip the highlighter as the eyes are the main feature and Marina's skin looks more matte than glowy. Use your favorite nude pink lipstick for a subtle finish to the look; I used a nude MAC lipglass over a Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in shade 'Sky Line Pink'. 

xxx

Brown Smokey Eye Look

Hey guys!

So last night I went to a friend's 18th party, and I thought it was a great opportunity to wear my favorite evening make up look ever- a classic brown smokey eye. I think this look is a brilliant take on the smokey eye because it is a lot less intense than the conventional black, a lot more subtle and glamorous, very much in the style of Kim Kardashian I think!

This look is all centered around the eye, complemented with flawless skin, bronzed sculpted cheeks and a paired nude lip.

To get this look I used the following products (In order of applying):

• No7 mousse foundation (discontinued- sorry!)
• Lacura concealer pen and Rimmel hide the blemish concealer 
• No7 translucent powder and Rimmel stay matte powder 
• MUA brown shadow in shade 19 for brows
• Frontcover eye primer
• MUA palette in 'Heaven and Earth'- (third shade bottom row), (first shade top row)
• No7 palette brown metallic shade
• Maybelline gel liner
• Max Factor liquid effect eye pencil in 'Brown Blaze'
• MAC Opulash mascara
• No7 mini mascara for bottom lashes
• Sleek blusher in 'Sahara'
• Sleek blusher in 'Pixie Pink'
• Benefit High Beam
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in shade 'Sky Line Pink'
• Soap and Glory 'Sexy Mother Pucker' clear lipgloss

OR///

• Rimmel lipstick in 'Diva Red'

For the eyes, the first step for any eye make up look using a lot of shadow, is to prime. This is a really important step to stop your eye shadow from slipping and creasing, especially if you have oily eyelids. I would like to point out that my eye make up stayed on all night right up until I took it off, still looking perfect thanks to the primer. I also think the MUA shadows are really good for staying put, and the price is insane at £4 for a palette of 12 shadows! After you've done this with your favorite primer (mine is from Frontcover cosmetics), layer the lightest colour of shadow all across the lid, taking it onto the tear duct, into the crease, and faintly up to the brow bone. Next, taking your dark brown shade, take this through the crease and out slightly. Then take a clean brush to blend so there is no harsh lines. Then apply a light shimmery colour on the brow bone, and blend again into the dark shadow to create a seamless effect. Taking this highlighter onto the tear duct will really bring out your eyes too. 

For bronzer, (I used a Sleek blusher), find the hollow of your cheeks- just below your cheekbone- and using light, circular motions blend onto the skin, taking care to not extend this line too much. Then pop a pretty light pink blusher (Pixie Pink is perfect for this) and put this on the apple of your cheeks, (the easiest way to find this is to smile, and its the most raised part) so you get a more natural combination of bronzer and colour.

I used a light lipstick for this look as I wanted the eyes to be the main focus, however it also suits a really chic bold red lip if you dare to do so, just make sure you wear it with confidence!

What's on my nails?

I applied this black nail varnish with this 'Yellow Topaz Glitter' as a top coat from Barry M, on New Years Eve. And it is still on! I think that's pretty impressive, it hasn't even chipped! This just goes to show that if you apply a top coat it really helps keep your polish intact for much longer. A pretty sparkly one like this also adds a new dimension to the nails, much more exciting than a clear one whilst still bringing the same glossy finish. 

 What is your favorite glamorous evening make up look?

xxx