EVERY DAY MAKEUP ROUTINE

I am someone who likes to mix my makeup look up most days, this could be trying out different eye looks or a bold lip colour, but if I am in a rush and need a fast, makeup fix or if I’m after a basic style, there is a certain makeup look I will opt for.

I’d say this is my signature makeup look and one I will wear most often. I feel like for quite some time now this hasn’t really changed and I am happy with the products used so thought I would run through how I achieve this with you all today.

Of course, key to great makeup involves a solid skincare routine. I won’t go into this in too much detail because I do plan on writing a separate post on how I improved my skin but I start by cleansing, toning and moisturising my face. I also apply some lip balm to help moisturise my dry lips.

Next, I use Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer all over my face which I find helps to minimise shine and keep my face looking matte throughout the day, as well as making my foundation apply like a dream. I then apply a small amount of Nivea Men Post Shave Balm on my face to help my makeup stay in place. I’m sure you’ve all heard about this product but if not, it has a sticky consistency which is perfect for keeping makeup in place.

I then apply some Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair over any pigmentation I have on my skin that I feel needs extra coverage, this tends to be around my nose and on my cheeks, and I blend this in with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. 

Moving onto foundation, I will use L’Oreal Paris Infallible Matte Foundation on a daily basis. I mix the shades Porcelain and Vanilla to make the perfect colour for my skin tone. Again, I will blend this with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge which gives me a flawless finish.

Concealing my under-eyes is something I still struggle with as I can never find a drugstore concealer that is pale enough for me but at the moment I use NYX HD Photogenic Concealer in the shade Porcelain as well as using some more Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer on any blemishes.

I then set all of this with my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent with any of my large powder brushes.

To bronze up my pale complexion, I sweep Rimmel Natural Bronzer all over the face with my Real Techniques Blush Brush and then contour my cheekbones, jawline and forehead with my Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in Light/Medium with the Real Techniques Cheek Brush which is a slightly wider brush than I’d typically use allowing to create a contour that isn’t too defined which I find great for everyday.

Now onto my eyes. I mix up my eye look the most but I do have a standard look for when I am rushed for time. First, I prime my eyes with Urban Decay Primer Potion. I use the shade Eden which has some pigmentation in it to help conceal any darkness and veins on the eyelid, which I have a lot of.

Next using any blending brush to hand, I pack a barely there eyeshadow shade all over my eyelid and take a warm orange/brown shade to use as my transition colour and then work that into my crease. On a daily basis, this will be shades from my beloved Morphe 35OM palette.

Even on days where I am short on time, winged eyeliner is a step I will never miss out. I create mine with the Miss Sporty Studio Lash The Miaoww Eyeliner in Black. This eyeliner is so affordable at only £2.99 and has a fine tip making precision much easier.

I will curl my eyelashes quickly then proceed with coating my lashes in a few coats of Rimmel Supercurler Mascara in Extreme Black. I find this mascara is perfect for creating the voluminous look I am after.

No matter what the occasion, the eyebrow product I will use is Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade in Taupe. I have a few sparse patches in my brows so this product works wonders for filling in any gaps while allowing me to create a slick, clean shape. I apply this using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Synthetic Duo Brow Brush #12. I then set my brows in place using  Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara in Medium Brown.

Now I add the glow! For my highlighter, I will use any small fluffy brush and apply The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer in my inner corners, down the bridge of my nose, brow bones and above my lip. Using a slightly larger fluffy brush, I then pack this onto my cheek bones for the most gorgeous golden glow.

To complete my ‘every day’ look I will apply a nude lipstick, such as Mac Velvet Teddy or NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm, and finish by spritzing some Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray all over my face to keep my makeup in place for longer.

So that is the routine I am now very happy with and have been using for some time now. If you would like a breakdown of how I do my makeup for a night out, be sure to let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading,

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OOTD | GREY, FLUTE SLEEVES & KOKO COUTURE

I’m grey obsessed, anyone that knows me can tell you this. When it comes to fashion, grey (and black) is the colour of the majority of my wardrobe so it seemed fitting to talk you through how I styled my new favourite grey pieces.

Frills and flute/bell sleeves are everywhere at the moment and it’s a trend I have completely fallen for. Moving on from bell sleeved winter jumpers for the transition into Spring, I’ve picked up a few lovely pieces recently such as this blouse from Topshop. It’s grey of course, with a slight lilac tint which makes it perfect for this season. Unfortunately, this blouse is no longer on their site but I’d urge you to have a look anyway because Topshop are killing it with this trend and there are some very similar tops to purchase! I think I’m even away to add some into my basket after I finish writing this post…

Black jeans are my go-to and it’s unlikely you’ll see me in anything else. I’ve always been a Topshop jeans kind of girl but recently I’ve been trying to move out of my comfort zone and try some from other stores. I found this black distressed pair from New Look and instantly knew I had to have them. Ripped knees is a trend that has been around for a while now but what I love about this particular pair is that they also have ripped hems, which renews the style and brings them straight into ’17.

I’ve gone metallic mad in the last few weeks so these boots were a must-have! They are heeled but I find them incredibly comfy and can walk in them for hours and they jazz up any average outfit. Again, I picked these up from New Look and even better in their sale! There are a few different styles to choose from here so grab them before they run out.

Now for the star of the show – my bag. When it comes to bags, I’d say I was pretty snobbish and would only buy one if it were designer as I was all about the quality. That was until I had the opportunity to try out the Zoe Large Faux Suede Clutch bag in Grey from KoKo Couture. This bag is only £20 and it’s completely changed the way I view bags, which my bank balance is incredibly grateful for! It also comes in White or Tan if those colours are more up your alley.

This bag is perfect for a night out and is large enough that you can fit everything you need in it – purse, phone, keys, makeup – plus plenty room for more. It has a detachable silver chain strap making it versatile for different occasions and metal embellishments on the fold over closure adding a little extra oomph. The quality of the bag seems to be great and for the price I’m insanely happy with it.

If you are after this bag, you can purchase it from KoKo Couture‘s website but what’s even greater is that they are being stocked in Topshop stores so these beautiful bags are now even more accessible, along with more of KoKo Couture‘s line.

Have you ever tried KoKo Couture bags? What do you think of them?

Thanks for reading,

 

THAILAND ADVENTURES – BANGKOK

Last June, I took an incredibly exciting 2 week trip to Thailand with my friend Laura.

First on our travel agenda was Bangkok. Bangkok is the capital city and is more modernised than some areas of Thailand, yet still filled to the brim with Thai culture and history.

One of the first things we did was take a long tail boat down the Chao Phraya river which allowed us to see some stunning scenery and temples and get a real feel for Thailand. I do recommend getting a water bus though if you would like to travel by boat as it will work out much cheaper for you than hiring a private long tail boat like we did.

Thailand is home to many Buddhist temples and Bangkok is no exception with some breathtaking buildings to be viewed.

Wat Pho, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a temple complex and is one of Thailand’s oldest and largest in Bangkok.

Of course, this complex houses the 46 metre long, gold plated Reclining Buddha which is probably the main attraction of this temple. A reclining Buddha is said to be a representation of him reaching ultimate Nirvana in his last moments of life. This is a must see as the the immensity of this Buddha cannot be shown in photo form. It is massive!

Around the Buddha, there are 108 small bronze bowls to symbolise the 108 auspicious  characters of Buddha. For good luck, you can buy coins and drop one in each bowl.

Wat Pho grounds are scattered with chedis (Buddhist commemorative monuments usually housing sacred relics of Buddha) covered in bright, colourful tiles making the ground very aesthetically pleasing.

There are 4 maim halls, or viharas, to visit when you are here – all just as spectaular as each other.

This includes the Ordination Hall, surrounded by large Buddha statues.

Inside the Ordination Hall is wonderful, just like every temple I came across on my travels. Intricate detailing from roof to floor make Buddhist temples the most amazing buildings I’ve ever visited. The Ordination Hall displays a gold plated Buddha for Buddhists to worship and make offerings to.

Close by is the Grand Palace, where the Kings of Siam/Thailand lived from 1782 – 1925. Although, this is no longer the King’s residence, the palace is still used for official events and royal ceremonies. The palace grounds is quite substantial with lots to be viewed.

In the palace grounds you will find the Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This is a royal chapel found within the walls of the palace and is regarded as the most important temple in Thailand. Here, the Phra Kaew Morakot (Emerald Buddha) is enshrined. The Buddha figure is made of a single block of jade, hence the name.

 

Like other temples, you must have your shoulders and knees covered upon entry to the temple. Since this is regarded as the most important temple, these rules are even stricter.

The Royal Pantheon, which was originally meant to house the Emerald Buddha but was disregarded due to its size, can also be found in the palace grounds. Surrounding this building are large statues of mythical guardians called Kinnarees.

So there are some of the highlights of my travels. My time in Bangkok, Thailand was a very educational one and an adventure I will remember forever. I would go back to visit in a heartbeat!

On my holiday, I also went to Chiang Mai and Koh Samui so keep an eye out for a post on my adventure there!

Have you ever been to Thailand? Do you want to go?

Thanks for reading,

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VALENTINE’S DAY CUT CREASE

It’s the day after Valentine’s day but a lot of you will probably still be celebrating into the weekend. Or if you’re like me, you might even be celebrating next week! So to keep myself in the spirit, I thought I would create a Valentine’s makeup look. This look might not be for everyone but it’s fun and that’s the way I tend to go when creating themed looks so I hope you like it.

I’ve tried to keep this makeup tutorial drugstore product based so it can be achieved by anyone and of course, the products I’ve used can be changed to suit what you already own.

I start the look by applying my base as usual.  I’m not going to go into detail about what I use because the focus of this post is the eyes.

I prime my eyes with Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden which helps keep the eyeshadow I’m about to use in place, while concealing any darkness and veins.

I then use the lightest, cream matte shade in my Makeup Revolution Redemption Essentials Mattes 2 Palette all over the lid to set my primer.

Using a blending brush, I take an almost neon matte pink eyeshadow into the crease as usual, gradually adding more to make the crease more vibrant. I continue by adding a selection of darker pinks and a hint of purple to make the crease even more defined. Using the same pink shades, I add some colour to the lower lash line. The palettes I chose to use for this are BH Cosmetics First Edition 120 Color Eyeshadow Palette and Makeup Revolution Redemption Acid Brights Palette.

To create the cut crease, I carve out my eyelid with concealer and blend this in. I also take the concealer out as far as I would when applying winged eyeliner. Keep your lines straight and clean cut. Again, I set this with the same light matte shade as before, then I use an off-white shimmer shade all over the lid. If you want to keep your look matte, then miss out this step.

Moving onto eyeliner, I take the NYX Vivid Brights Eyeliner in Fire, which is a red/pink shade, and create a thin wing to define my eyes.

With the NYX Vivid Brights Eyeliner in Petal (a pale, baby pink) I draw small hearts along the winged eyeliner, evenly spaced out. I find this step pretty tricky but if you take your time it should work out fine. If not, practice makes perfect!

I then go back and add any definition I think is needed to make the pink cut crease pop, ensuring I avoid any part of the eye where I applied concealer.

I finish off by applying some L’Oreal Paris False Lash Flutter Mascara and theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter in my inner corners and along the brow bone and I’m ready to go.

I hope you all like the final look. If you try this out, please let me know and direct me to any photos because I would love to see!

I also want to know how did you spend Valentine’s Day this year? If you’re like me and haven’t celebrated yet, how are you spending your time?
Thanks for reading,

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REVIEW | NYX VIVID BRIGHTS EYELINER

Are you looking to add a little bit of colour to your life? Well, what better way than adding some bright, playful eyeliner to your makeup look!

Since arriving in Boots, NYX has quickly become one of my favourite drugstore brands so when I saw these Vivid Brights eyeliners I knew I had to try them out.

I originally purchased the pastel purple eyeliner in the shade Blossom and over time I’ve kept going back for more and at a very affordable price of £5.50, can you really blame me?

Packaging

Each eyeliner bottle comes packaged in a cardboard box (in my opinion, this box is far too much for the product and does seem a waste) and long and slim in shape. The brush in each tube is a fine tip brush which allows for a thin application of colour to be applied to the eye. Personally, I don’t get on too well with the brush as I prefer a pen-type nib for applying eyeliner and I find anything else doesn’t give me the same accuracy but others I’ve spoken to swear by the Vivid Brights brush!

Quality

Let’s start with the formula of the eyeliners. It is quite watery in consistency but dries down completely matte. I suggest applying a thin layer of product because if you apply more than necessary it can have a tendency to crumble which is not what anyone wants but if you apply the correct amount it will last all day. I love wearing these above black eyeliner to intensify and add some dimension to a look or on their own to really give that pop of colour. Each way works great!

After two coats, the pigmentation of the Vivid Brights is opaque and indeed colourful. I would say some of the shades, such as Envy (green) and Halo (yellow), aren’t as bright as you may expect them to be so I would swatch the colours to know what you are buying and to avoid disappointment. For me though, this isn’t a problem and I like that some of the shades are more pastel as this makes them more wearable. For colours such as these, I recommend wearing above black eyeliner to define your eye since they are paler than some of the others. Fire and Sapphire are two of my favourite shades that do remain true to colour and are as vibrant as you would expect. These are beautiful worn on their own for a statement cat eye look.

Colours

There are 9 colours in the collection available at Boots which cover all your needs.

Of the 9 shades, I have 6 which are pictured above – minus the pastel yellow eyeliner in Halo as I couldn’t find it…

From top to bottom:

– Blossom (pastel pink)

– Petal (baby pink)

– Fire (hot pink/red)

– Sapphire (royal blue)

– Envy (leaf green)

Overall, I absolutely love these eyeliners to add some fun to a simple makeup look and they are perfect for fancy dress/Halloween. They are super affordable and I’d highly recommend giving them a go. I’ll definitely be picking up the other colours!

Which is your favourite shade?

Thank for reading,

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WHAT I GOT FOR CHRISTMAS 2016

Christmas came and left in a flash. All that build up for one day sometimes seems a bit excessive but when you see the face of loved ones when you give them their gifts it does seem worth it in the end. I had a lovely, quiet Christmas with my family and I hope you all had a wonderful time too.

It’s now February so this post is long overdue! I considered not even posting this but you splendid lot still wanted to see it.

So here is what I got for Christmas.

From My Parents

I felt very lucky this year with my presents from my parents. I was treated to a lovely shoulder bag from Dune and a simple, classic-looking watch from Olivia Burton, both of which I love!

My parents also know I am stationery obsessed so I found myself with some new notebooks, a weekly planner, washi tape for decorating my Plum Paper planner (if you want to see a post about how I decorate mine, let me know) and some very cute post-it notes that are stacked to resemble a pile of gifts.

My parents know how much I am longing for a Mini as my next car but right now I can’t afford one. I’ve wanted a Mini since I were little so they couldn’t resist finally buying me my ‘first Mini‘. They thought they were hilarious when I opened the box up to find a toy car.

I also received some workout gear, which I’m hoping will help me find some motivation to complete Kayla Itsine’s Bikini Body Guide, some cute jumpers and some pretty, dainty pieces of jewellery .

If there is one other thing my parents know about me, it’s that I love all things beauty so I ended up opening a fair few beauty bits on Christmas day, much to my delight!

I received some body care products such as a Body Shop gift set in the Wild Argan Oil scent and a selection of Soap & Glory products which are some of my favourites (is it Christmas without some Soap & Glory though?)

I don’t wear much perfume as overpowering scents can give me headaches so I grudge paying too much for one. The perfume I was gifted is from Zara and is perfect for me. Also, the bottle is gorgeous and different to the packaging normally found which I love.

I was also lucky to receive some makeup bits from my parents. I’ve been on the hunt for my first high-end foundation and I think Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation could be the one. I’ve only used it a few times but I’m really enjoying it so far.  I was also given some NYX products such as the Soft Matte Lip Cream in Budapest, which is now a staple in my collection, as well as a personalised Makeup Obsession palette with a selection of eyeshadows, blusher and contour pans. The palette will be perfect for travelling!

From My Sister, Hannah

Speaking of travelling, my sister was very thoughtful and made me a hamper of travel related gifts since she knows I want to jetset all over the world.

First off, I received a travel pillow in the design of a monster which will be perfect for my long flight to Japan this year. Another useful gift for Japan is the marble print passport holder and luggage tag, so pretty!

She also bought me some travel themed notebooks to add to my evergrowing stationery collection.

The last present in the hamper was a scratchable world map. I really like this as I can scratch off where I am been in the world so I know where I need to visit next as well as having something to look at to remind me of the amazing holidays I’ve been on.

From My Best Friend, Holly

Holly and I are as obsessed as each other when it comes to makeup so I knew I should expect a very exciting gift from her.

She gifted me a few bits some the Sleek Rockstar Collection such as the i-Lust Palette which has some colourful shimmer shades for brightening up an eye look. On the same theme, is the palette from BH Cosmetics. This palette has two layers eyeshadows in every colour you will ever need. I am so excited to play with this and create some fun makeup looks.

Holly knows I’ve been lusting over Jeffree Star highlighters so she picked up one in Lavender Snow for me which is the most perfect, blinding highlight and now I want more.

To complete an already amazing present was the Film Noir Nights Makeup kit from Charlotte Tilbury which includes an kohl eyeliner and an exclusive lipstick in the shade Opium Noir. It’s gorgeous!

From My Boyfriend, Blair

I wasn’t expecting much from Blair as we haven’t been together very long and even then we have only known each other for a short time but from the gifts he gave me I can tell he already knows me so well!

Something you might not know about me is that I have a love for all things skulls. I have an assortment of skulls in my room, in the form of candles, ornaments, prints etc, and I also love a cup of tea. So when I opened up the box to find a skull mug, I was ecstatic.

Blair, as well as everyone in my life, knows about my makeup addiction but for him to pick out a Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick, one of my favourite liquid lipsticks, I was so shocked and impressed. I have quite the collection now too so for him to pick out a colour that I don’t own impressed me further. He obviously pays attention. I also love that he picked a bright, out-there shade since he knows I like to experiment with unique lip colours.

He also kindly paid for our tickets to see The Kooks in Manchester in April which will be an exciting, little trip for us. If anyone has any recommendations for what we should do when we are in Manchester that would be amazing!

As you can tell, I was truly spoilt and I am very grateful for everything I received from my friends and family this Christmas. I can seriously say I love everything I was given!

What did you get for Christmas?

Thanks for reading

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COLOURPOP LIQUID LIPSTICK HAUL

Part two of my Colourpop haul is on the ultra matte/satin liquid lipsticks. If you want to see the first part on their eyeshadows, check it out here.

Colourpop has become my favourite brand for liquid lipsticks. I find they are the most long lasting of any brand I’ve tried and I have quite the collection. They are incredibly affordable at  $6 each, bearing in mind that these are coming from the US and you will be charged a customs charge when they arrive in the UK but I still think they are worth this extra cost.

CHRISTMAS AT THE BODY SHOP

Earlier this month I got the opportunity to go to The Body Shop Blogger Event in Aberdeen’s store to learn a little more about their Christmas range with a group of other bloggers from Aberdeen.

This was my first blogger event so I was excited to finally have the chance to see what one entails, albeit a little nervous too. For moral support, my friends Holly, Jess (who also had never been to an event before) and I all went along together.

BEAUTY BAY HAUL

Another haul? Yes! My bank account may not be happy with me at the moment but I’m perfectly fine with that.

This time, I had a shopping spree on the Beauty Bay website, which is one of my favourite ways to buy and try out new makeup products.

The main reason for my purchase was to try Zoeva eyeshadow palettes as I’ve heard great reviews on them and for such as affordable price I thought they would be perfect everyday palettes.

NYX HAUL

NYX is becoming a firm favourite in my collection, especially now Boots have opened NYX counters in many stores in the UK, Aberdeen being one, and once again I couldn’t help but pick up a few bits, oops…

I’ll jump straight in with the lip products I purchased.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, £5.50. From left to right, I bought Abu Dhabi, Transylvania and Moscow.

The soft matte formula is one of my favourites when it comes to liquid lipstick. It is creamy, smooth and applies with ease. They dry down to a matte finish, long lasting but unlike most liquid formulas, it remains moisturising on the lips. I find Abu Dhabi perfect for work as it stays in place while I’m running about at work. Transylvania will be perfect now we are coming into Autumn and Moscow, well, I’m not sure when I will ever be brave enough to wear a dark blue lipstick but people that are pull it off very well. One last thing to mention is that these lipsticks have a strong vanilla scent. I’ve grown to love this but it might be overpowering for some, it was for me at first.

NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick, £6.50. This is in the shade Tea & Cookies. 

Again, this is one of my favourite formula of liquid lipstick and have many shades so decided to pick this one up too. It applies effortlessly and doesn’t make your lips feel dry as it remains slightly velvety on the lips while still looking completely matte.

For me personally, I find the colour a little too baby pink against my pale skin tone which isn’t how I imagined this colour to look which is disappointing. I’ve seen this colour on my friend and it looks completely different on her. I’m going to try again with a nude brown lipliner all over first to see if I can tone down the pink on application.

Here are the colours of each lipstick swatched – Moscow, Transylvania, Abu Dhabi, Tea & Cookies.

NYX HD Concealer, £5.50, in the shade Porcelain.

From the very start of my makeup days back when Bebo was all the rage, the only concealer I’ve ever used and loved is the classic Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer until I tried out this concealer from NYX. They actually have a shade which is light enough to brighten up my undereye which is the main reason I decided to pick this up but the concealer in general works great on me. It is quite full coverage which really helps cover up my dark circles but doesn’t look thick and cakey. I also find that this creases on me a lot less than anything else I have tried. It’s a winner.

NYX Colour Correcting Powder, £8, in the shade Banana. 

I picked this up because I’ve been enjoying using loose powder recently and I’ve heard great things about banana shade powders for brightening. I’m yet to try this out but I will let you know how I get on.

NYX Micro Brow Pencil, £7, this is in the shade Taupe.

My favourite brow product is my ABH Dip Brow but this can create quite an intense brow so I was on the hunt for something I could use for a more natural brow on a day to day basis. I had heard this NYX pencil was the same shade as my dipbrow but it is slightly warmer which I’m not too fond of. However, I will continue to use this on days where I’m less concerned about how brilliant my makeup looks because it easy. The pencil is thin enough that you can draw on natural looking strokes to any sparse areas of your brow.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil, £5, in the shade Milk.

Out of everything I purchased, this is definitely the one that makes me most excited. Originally I bought this for an eyeshadow base to intensify colour but I would always forget to apply it so I decided to try it out for my inner corner highlight and I fell in love. This really helps brighten and elongate my small eyes. It also stays in place all day, it’s amazing! Honestly, I cannot rave about this pencil enough, it’s exactly what I needed in my collection without even knowing it.

If there is one thing you buy after reading this post, make it this Jumbo Eye Pencil, you won’t regret it. I’d highly recommend trying out the Soft Matte Lip Creams also.

I’d love to know what your NYX must haves are, let me know!

Thanks for reading,

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