My Daily Makeup

So...hi. It's been a while hasn't it? It feels like a lot has happened since I last posted here, I'm closer to the end than the beginning of my second year at uni, I've got a job and life has been really hectic. But I miss my blog and I miss talking to you guys and so I'm back with my tail between my legs hoping you'll still want to come back and read what I have to say.

Since so much has changed I figured that my first post here should be on my current daily makeup since it has completely changed since I last posted here! Don't worry just because I haven't been writing about makeup doesn't mean I'm not buying any.

As a foundation I'm currently using my Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in the shade 100 ivory (basically the lightest shade they have for old pale faced me). This one can be a little bit more full coverage than the Touche Eclat foundation I was using previously, but on days when I don't want as much coverage I just use less and it works fine for me. I like that it still gives a nice, natural, slightly more on the dewy than matte side, finish and when I buff it in with my Real Techniques buffing brush it makes my skin look really flawless which is great! It also has SPF 18 which will be awesome when the sun eventually makes an appearance.

I picked up this cream eyeshadow from Elizabeth Arden for an absolute steal in the House of Fraser sale a couple weeks ago (you can still get it on the Boots website for a similarly reduced price). I got the shade Anchors Away 03 which is a gorgeous purple/browny/taupey metallic shade which I think really suits my green eyes. I love cream eyeshadows because they are so super easy to use and blend and, considering I am always late, they are a really quick fix when you're rushing around in the morning. The texture of this one was at first really bizarre as it was kind of gel like and had a more whipped consistency than other cream products I've used before but after a couple uses I've managed to press it into the pot a little bit more and it feels quite nice now. Plus I just found out by looking at it on the Boots website to make sure you guys could still pick it up that it has Aloe and Vitamin E in it so it's doing something nice for your eyes as well!

Because it's cold season here and literally everyone I know (including myself) seems to be coming down with something I keep topping myself up with my Burt's Bees lip balm with mango butter. When I get a cold my lips get ridiculously dry and tight feeling which isn't at all pleasant and this lip balm just really does the job at helping me feel like a normally lipped human being (plus it smells like Heaven).

Mascara is a really personal thing and (let's be honest) I only really bought this one because of the packaging but I actually really like the Revlon Lash Potion mascara. I read a couple of reviews before I bought it and everyone seemed to be saying get the waterproof one and so I did just that. I won't lie I don't think I'm a waterproof mascara type of girl, since it seems to take forever to take off, and I just can't be bothered with that. However I do like that it gives me the right amount of volume and length without weighing my lashes down (am I the only person who worries about this??) and it looks really natural rather than like I've caked myself in layers of mascara which I also like.

Last but certainly not least is my Clinique cream blush in 03 berry pop. I love the bubblegum pink colour of this blush especially when things are starting to get a little bit more summery but my skin is really pale because it gives my skin an amazing flush. Although it is cream it feels quite dry in the pot which I actually like because it doesn't make me worry I'm pasting my cheeks with colour! All I do is swirl a finger over the cute little daisy print stamped into the blush (so adorable) and then pop a couple dots of blush on each cheek and then blend them out. So nice and easy and not at all intimidating like some of the other cream blushes you see.

So there we are; my current daily makeup staples! If you've got any staples you think I should try of it you've tried any of these let me know what you think in the comments!

Clean Slate - Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Facial Wipes

So...I'm back *awkward silence*...I realise I have been away for quite some time now and I'm sorry (bad blogger *slap on the wrist*) but I've had a really amazing but really busy summer and finding time to write my blog was hard and I hope you guys understand. Anyway I'm back at uni now and I'm back here too so I hope we can all see the benefit in the fact that I've got a whole summers worth of products to share with you all!

The first thing I just had to talk about were these Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Facial Wipes! Now if any of you read my A Little Bit Gel-ous? post then you know that I used to only use makeup wipes to remove my makeup, which isn't the best of things for your skin but is a really quick alternative after a long day when you'd rather just dive head first into bed. However the ones I used aren't readily available in the UK and though I tried a few other brands I could never find ones I loved as much so I just gave up on makeup wipes altogether (and I won't lie, as a result had a few days where I just went to bed without any attempt to remove my makeup).

However the other day I was in boots buying a new eyeliner when I found myself in the skincare section next to these Yes To wipes I'd never seen before. The packaging of them is just really cute and it says on the front that they have won an Allure Beauty Expert Award so I was like 'what the hell' and bought them to try and I am so glad I did!

First off I really like how they come with the closable plastic flap because I've never had that on a packet of face wipes before and I like how it keeps the wipes on the top moist (yes I hate that word too) rather than drying them out like the stick able ones sometimes do.

The wipes themselves are amazing! They are quite thick and sturdy feeling so you don't feel like they'll fall apart half way through using them which is great. Also they feel really soft on the skin more like a piece of cotton than some of the scratchy wipes I have tried and they are just a nice product to use. Plus it handled removing my makeup really well and left my face feeling really clean.

The only downside as far as I can see is that it doesn't completely remove my suborn waterproof eye makeup but then again not a hell of a lot does!

I would say these wipes are perfect as a quick fix for those occasional days where you don't want to go through that complete skin care regime or as a first step before using a cleanser etc. as they will remove the bulk of your makeup. I'm just so excited to find some I love! Let me know if you guys have tried these and if there's any wipes you think I should try too.

Chocolate Cravings - Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer

It's that time of year when the sun is shining, the birds are singing and I am still as pale as a pale thing can be that has an extra special reason to be pale. I guess it's like my mum always says I'm just pale and interesting (well hopefully rather than pale and boring). But since the weather in theory is nicer and summery...er, (though as I type this the sun is hidden behind some worryingly dark clouds) I don't want to be pale and interesting I want to be a beautiful bronze goddess (i.e. regular me with a tan).

The only trouble with me is that I am terrified of fake tan, I'm not even sure why, I think I'm just worried I'll come out the other side looking more like a satsuma than the bronze goddess mentioned previously. Because of this fear bronzer is my only way to tan up in the summer without the aid of any actual sunlight.

The Bourjois chocolate bronzer is a bit of a cult classic and is often raved about in the beauty blogosphere so I knew I wanted to try it out. As usual we have to start talking about the packaging; it looks like chocolate and - is this just me? - it smells like chocolate too so straight off the bat what is not to love? Plus I like how they make the little box look like a storybook and it feels sturdy so I'd be ok traveling with it.

Now onto the actual bronzer (yes I'm impressed by how quickly I got through the packaging too). As some of you may know I'm a reacent contouring convert and, although sadly I'm not all that good at it yet (I'm still too terrified of the dark streaks across my face that I blend it to the ultimate subtlety), I can tell a good bronzer because it makes my novice life a hell of a lot easier, and this product does just that.

The colour is warm and not too orangey, it blends like an absolute dream and, although there is a slight shimmer to it that doesn't really come out when you contour. However if you want an all over bronze instead this will do wonders for you too. The shimmer really comes into its own when you dust this all over the face, it doesn't glitter or give you any added sparkle but it just gives your skin a lovely sheen that makes you look glowing.

As you might be able to tell I love this product so much and I can clearly understand why it is the cult classic that it is. Have any of you guys tried this product? Did you love it as much as me???

Q&A Tag

So this morning I woke up, checked my comments and was delighted to see that the lovely Keighly Kerr from her blog Keighly had tagged me to do this post! If I'm honest I'm a little too excited about this since in the blogging world I feel a little bit like the new girl with no friends and this is like someone asking me to have lunch with them! Totally thinking about Mean Girls now...

Anyway after that rather random start lets start on the questions!

What is your current fashion obsession?
I kind of covered this question off in my June favourites my current fashion obsession has got to be my sunglasses from Topshop, even if since I've come home I haven't had much opportunity to wear them (damn you Northern summer!!)

What is your current makeup obsession?

Since I saw the poster for the Mac collaboration collection with Lorde I so so so want to try out a purple lip it just looks gorgeous so I guess that's what I'm obsessed with right now!

What are you wearing today?

Well (this is embarrassing) I don't know exactly what I will be wearing today because I'm not out my pjs yet, I was just so excited to write this post I had to do it straight away (but don't worry I will be all ready by the time this post goes out!)

Hair?

Well at the minute it is a dishevelled mess but I'll wash and straighten it when I'm finished writing this so it'll be all good...maybe...

Do you nap a lot?

Is it just me who thinks this is the most bizarre question??? Anyway no I do not I'm quite a heavy sleeper so if I was to try and nap I'd be there for hours and not sleep of a night time.

Why is today special?

I want to say because I got tagged to do this but that is just a whole new level of sadness so instead I will say because it is one of my friends 20th birthday (aren't I cute!)

What would you like to learn to do?

I would love to learn to actually play an instrument! In my life I've had lessons to learn; the violin, the keyboard, the guitar and I attempted to teach myself the recorder (which I think was just painful for everyone involved). Despite all this however I can't actually play anything so there you go. On a more practical note I would like to learn website design because since my last foray that I mentioned briefly in this post I've been too afraid to attempt it again in case I have a similarly nightmarish experience.

What's for tea?

Chicken and chorizo (mmmm). If you'd like to see more of what I have for tea (I mean who wouldn't) my mum writes an amazing food blog that I steal recipes off all the time so you could always go check that out! :-)

I love my mum's soba noodles!

What are you listening to right now?

Well right this second nothing because I find it difficult to concentrate and listen to music. However the music I'm listening to at the minute (and please bear in mind I have quite a varied music taste) is:

- Going to Hell by the Pretty Reckless (my favourite song is House On A Hill)

- Young the Giant's new album Mind Over Matter (my favourite song is It's About Time)

- Electra Heart by Marina And The Diamonds (just a favourite album of mine I love all the songs!)

So there you go.

What is your favourite weather?

I'm a summer baby so I love it when its warm and the sun is shining and I can crack out my summer dresses!

What was the last thing you bought?

So super excited for this but I bought the Naked 3 palette and I can't wait to use it today! Of course a review will be up on here at some point in the near future.

So pretty!

What are your essentials when traveling?

Err, this one is actually quite hard now I think about it...I would say my iPad and iPhone for definite, makeup wipes because I am even more lazy on holiday and good people because no one likes to travel on their own (sorry for the slightly cheesy end there folks).

What's your style?

I would say I just wear the stuff I think is nice and goes together so I don't know if I fit into a particular style category...I realise this does not help.

What is your most challenging goal at the minute?

I realise this isn't a very profound goal but its the truth: trying to book holidays for the summer (and yes I know how last minute it is).

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I'd love to say somewhere warm by the sea but in actuality if I could have such an amazing house I'd have it in the same town as my uni so I could live there with my flatmates and actually enjoy it a lot of the time!

Favourite vacation (holiday for us English folk) spot?

Florida! 100%. We used to go there every year when I was younger and I am desperate to go back (yes I am still a little kid).

Name the things you cannot live without...

Food, water...but seriously probably friends, family, my grumpy cat Sooty; those kinds of things.

How was your childhood?

Seriously what kind of question is this? But it was good thanks for asking.

What would you like to have in your hands right now?

Totally have to agree with Keighly's answer and say a winning lottery ticket!

What would you like to get rid of?

Sprouts.

What are you most excited for?

Going away with my friends!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour where would you go?

Well since an hour isn't really long enough to enjoy a gorgeous part of the world I'd go visit my uni flatmates Anna and Josie because I miss them (sorry to be cheesy again guys what is wrong with me?)

What countries have you visited?

France (so, so, so many times), Holland, USA, Spain, Scotland, Croatia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Italy and Belgium.

So that's the end of the questions! I hope you liked hearing a little bit more about me 

I'm Back! - June Favourites

So first off I'm sorry I've been gone for nearly two months *ashamed face* I didn't realise when I went back to uni just how busy I was going to be; working full days with some weeks where I barely had time to sleep! I'm back though and I thought a good way to cover some of the beauty ground since my last post would be to tell you my monthly favourites!

My favourites

This past month has been a strange one for me because I'm the kind of person who likes to get up a little bit earlier in order to have the time to get ready at my own pace, stare into the distance between spoonfuls of cereal, sing a whole host of songs in the shower and spend time getting my makeup just right. However with being so busy I've been sleeping as late as possible in an attempt to get my 8 hours every night and as a result this month my beauty routine has been about being speedy as much as anything else.

Also the weather has been gorgeous! This has been my first year of experiencing southern summer and it has just been great! Who knew what us northerners where missing out on?? I won't pretend that I haven't felt a certain sense of glee telling my parents just how sunny and warm it is on the phone when they've been stuck inside because of the rain. This lovely weather has made me feel even more summery than I already am anyway and so I've been much more inclined towards colour and brightness in my makeup than I would otherwise normally be.

So without anymore rambling lets get into the favourites!

1. On the bright summer colours theme I have been loving the MUA blushers. I read a really good review of them and decided I had to give them a go and then when I realised they were only £1 each I decided to get my three favourite colours (because Superdrug had 3 for 2 on making it only £2 all together *happy dance*). The blushers are really pigmented which is great and they are really compact for carrying around too which makes them convienient. The only downside I can find is that the texture is a little power but for less than £1 each that doesn't bother me. I also can't say they have great staying power but I have trouble making blush stay on my face anyway since I can't seem to stop touching my face throughout the day.

MUA blush in marshmallow

My favourite of the three I bought is marshmallow because it's this really cool toned pink that goes amazingly well with my much loved Sleek lipstick that I am wearing in this post. I also think it's just a really nice bright colour to wear on the cheeks in the summer time.

2. Carrying on this summer colours thing I absolutely adore this lipstick. Was it just me who watched Made in Chelsea way back when and coveted the beautiful tanned glow and orangey lips that all the girls wore (I think in season 2 or 3) either way I really wanted to try it then and then wasn't brave enough but when I saw this lipstick from Kiko Velvet Mat Satin Lipstick in Bright Orange I was reminded of my Made in Chelsea loving days and just had to have it.

Yes I risk putting my lipstick in the grass for you

The packaging is so cool with the gold coloured K motif on the lid and then the fact that you have to push down on the bottom to release the lipstick its very futuristic and cool and I just am such a sucker for it. Also I think the lipstick is fantastic. It is a matte formula and like a lot of matte formulas I find it to be a little bit drying but I think it stays on the lips really well and the colour is just so wearable and I get so many compliments on it because it is a little bit unusual but it actually isn't too out there and looks gorgeous with that Made in Chelsea tan.

3. Because my eye makeup tends to be the thing that I spend the most time on I've been staying away from my powder eyeshadows where the danger is always that I would have 5 mins before I had to be out the door and then go 'Ooh actually I've never tried this shadow in the crease before', mess it up and either leave looking like a panda, or more likely, leave 20 mins late having just redone my makeup.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in on and on bronze

 Therefore I've been using my trusty Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze that I've had for ages and it has kept me nicely in check. It's a great cream shadow because it lasts for ages, which has been especially helpful for me when I've been doing really long days, its so easy to just apply with your finger and if you blend it out with just a generic, neutral crease colour, like I have bee doing, it's just so quick and it looks like you've put in way more effort than you have which is exactly what we want with makeup right??

4. I just need to pause to enjoy the name of my next favourite; the Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick from Soap & Glory in Nudist. This is another product I'be had for a while but this one just never had it's day in the sun (no pun intended - it makes more sense in a minute) until now, largely because soon after I bought it I left it in my bag in a hot car, came back and found it had partially melted all over the pocket which of course was a barrel of laughs.

And again risking lip products in the grass for you

That little incident aside I love this product and don't know how it lived unloved at the back of my lipstick drawer for so long. The formula is just a teeny bit sticky (but I kinda like that) and it is majorly glossy like to the extent it looks like you've actually applied lipgloss. Plus being a fan of colours as opposed to nudes I am surprised how much I enjoy the colour of Nudist which is almost a your lips but better kind of shade that I actually think looks quite flattering on me. Also this is another really easy product to use as it just glides on and, although it won't stay all day, it isn't obvious when it has faded a bit because it is a nude colour and its really easy to reapply on the go.

5. Maybe this is the month of rediscovering old things I don't know but I have loved this SteamCream moisturiser for ages. I stopped using it in the winter because it is quite a heavy moisturiser and I would wake up feeling like my face was majorly oily so I switched to a much lighter one. However now the weather is so much warmer my skin was becoming a bit dull and dry so I switched back and this has just injected a bit of a sheen (but not oiliness) back into my skin which is lovely especially since its summer and you kind of want that look even more in summer. Plus the tin is just gorgeous! They were supposed to be limited edition but I think mine is still available. Also the ingredients list is vegan and all natural which is great if your skin is as sensitive as mine too!

The flowers look so at home!

6. I was going to do 5 favourites and I realise this post is already really long and your mind has drifted somewhere else by now or you've switched off and are just staring blankly at the screen but please stay with me for this favourite because I love it! I am a glasses/contacts wearer day to day so when the sun comes out I've never been drawn to sunglasses because either you wear them instead of your glasses, in which case you can't see, or you go to the effort of contacts meaning you don't have to wear glasses only to put glasses on which seems kind of counter productive. That was until I saw these babies from Topshop!

Love these glasses so much!

I think they really suit my face shape while not being too similar to my day to day glasses which I think is nice because if I go to the effort of buying sunglasses I don't want it to look like I just got my regular glasses tinted. Plus I think the tortoise shell effect is so cute!

Well thats the end of my favourites! If anyone read this far thank you I will love you forever and I also want to say thanks for sticking with me despite my elongated absence *hangs head in shame again*. If you've tried any of these products did you love them too? Also is there anything you've been loving this month I should try? Please let me know!

P.S
My naughty kitty cat Sooty kept getting in the way of my photos. I think he wanted to try the products out for himself too!

NYX In Next!

So this is my last post in my mini beauty haul series (is it really a series I'm not sure...we'll just go with it). Personally this is the post I'm the most excited about, you may not be and that's ok we're all different people in this world but still...I think it's pretty exciting!

So if you are like me and are in the UK you may have seen other beauty bloggers, youtubers etc talking about the US based makeup brand NYX with the little green goblin of envy in your eyes as they talked about how amazing the blushes are and casually discussed the many colours they own of the very affordable Jumbo Eye Pencils. You may have then gone home and cried into your pillow about how unfair life is and consolidated yourself with the fact that they do have an online shop (although the 'very affordable' prices seem somewhat less affordable when you have to pay £5 delivery). Well no more!

I was walking around the Metrocentre at home (it's in Gateshead near Newcastle) and I was looking for a few odds and ends after having just been to Boots and Superdrug and bought my Real Techniques Duo Fibre Brushes and my MUA Pretty Edgy Palette and decided to pop into Next to have a look at their jeans (which I love by the way) and their shoes. I was walking around at the back of the shop near the shoe section when all of a sudden I noticed a randomly placed new display with the big letters NYX on the top! It wasn't there last time I was home (as far as I know) and I haven't seen one in any other Next shop so I don't know if it's being rolled out across all stores but it was there!

I won't lie to you all the display wasn't huge and there wasn't as much of a range of colours as there are online but they sold the blushes, the Jumbo Eye Pencils, their matte lipsticks, lip glosses (I think they were megashine but I could be wrong) and a bunch of other stuff I can't quite remember.

I did get (possibly a little bit too) excited and there was one point where I had about 6 different products in my hands but then I decided to be a little more restrained and I ended up picking up a Jumbo Eye Pencil in the colour 620 Bronze and one of their matte lipsticks (which as far as I can tell are called matte lipsticks) in the colour Bloody Mary. Very restrained (pats self on back).

The matte lipstick is really nice and I really like it! Firstly (as always) the packaging is really cool (my boyfriend says it looks like a nuclear power cell and I'm inclined to agree), it is very sleek and kinda space-age looking and strangely expensive looking for a drugstore priced lipstick. It applies quite smoothly which is nice and is very creamy for a matte lip. I love the colour which is a rich red with pinky undertones and I like the way it looks on the lips.

Although the formula is supposed to be matte I've found it to have a slight sheen in the light, I mean to say it definitely isn't glossy but it isn't quite fully matte either its more of a happy medium. It does transfer quite easily though and (not exactly being the most graceful/elegant/poised of people) I get it all over my hands, drinks, clothes, everywhere! However despite this it does manage to stay on your lips for quite some time (no I don't understand it either) though you would probably want to top it up for good measure anyway.

The Jumbo Eye Pencils...what can I say? I'm sold! I love love love it! For those of you who may not have used this or pencil eyeshadows shadows before this works in that you apply the shadow to your eyelids much like you would draw with a pencil and then once applied the shadow is slightly more creamy than a regular pressed powder eyeshadow, slightly less creamy than a cream eyeshadow (another happy medium). 

I bought this colour because I really wanted to try a coppery toned/bronzey colour and this fit the bill. It is very pigmented and quite orangey toned (probably more than I would have preferred) but you can put it on then blend it out with your fingers or a brush to mute the colour somewhat but my favourite way is to apply Downtown from the Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette over the top because that shadow is a rose gold/coppery shade anyway and when applied over the top of this it really brings out the bronzy/copper undertones.

Now I'll be honest I always apply this with a primer underneath because I've heard it creases like hell and (I'm a terrible beauty reviewer I know) I haven't had a day yet since buying this where I am prepared to test out the theory with the possibility of becoming crease-zilla. But with a primer this works amazingly and stays all day which is awesome and doesn't crease leaving me looking fabulous all day.

Have you tried any NYX products?? I loved these so I really want to try some more so if you could leave me some recommendations I'll love you forever! 

Tell Me About It Stud - MUA Pretty Edgy Palette

I realised today that I forgot to tell you in my last post (ironically) that I'm back at uni! It's nice to be back and seeing everyone again plus the weather here is soooo much nicer than it was when I was back home! It does, however, make this MUA Pretty Edgy Palette that I bought on a windy, rainy day back home seem a little bit unseasonal but I'll soldier on all in the name of beauty blogging (cry me a river right?).

Top Row L-R: Antique, Bow, Toile, Ruffle, Flounce, Lace
Bottom Row L-R: Sinful, Gothic, Wrath, Envy

Lots of people talk about MUA products but I've never really been that drawn to them...I had a red lipstick of theirs years and years ago that I loved (but I used to get it all over my face) and I have another eyeshadow palette that I bought instead of their Heaven and Earth Palettes (which are supposedly Naked palette dupes) because I already had the real Urban Decay Naked palette so instead I bought this other MUA palette with a ton of blue shades which (obviously) I never use.

However all that being said I was browsing the super drug website ages ago one evening (yes some people have crack, I have online makeup shops) and saw they were advertising the release of their new MUA Pretty Edgy Palette and (I'm not gunna lie to you) the packaging drew me in in much the same way it did with my Kat Von D Palette. The packaging is much swankier than previous MUA palettes; it comes in a black case with a huge mirror on the inside of the lid, the shadows are square not round (try to contain your shock please) and, the bit that got me the most excited, the lid is covered with studs!

The studded lid in all it's glory!

When I first went to get the palette it was sold out because it had just been released and then after a while I just forgot about it and moved on. Then when I was home at Easter I saw it and I was immediately like 'I have to have it!'. The colours in this are really pretty too and since I've tended to err on the neutral side of eyeshadows I figured I could justify (in my head at least) buying this largely purple toned palette (plus it was really affordable so I figured what the hell!).

The shadows themselves are on the dryer side which makes them a little more difficult to work with and there is some fall out too, so you would probably want to use a primer and do your foundation, concealer etc after you've finished your eyes. However the colour selection is really nice and the combination of shimmers (top row) and mattes (bottom row) is very complimentary.

L-R: Antique, Bow, Toile, Ruffle, Flounce, Lace

The colour pay off of the shadows is really nice too, although I would say they don't look exactly like how they do in the pan when you apply them, which is a little bit of a shame as I was really excited about some of them, particularly lace which I have all over my lid in the picture above. They are really long wearing with a primer (I haven't tried them without yet) and I was impressed that even the matte black shadow, Envy (which I used as like a smoky eyeliner and comes out slightly more browney than it looks) had really nice pigmentation as I've tried a few matte shadows from the drugstore which were pretty much invisible once applied.

T-B: Sinful, Gothic, Wrath, Envy

Overall I would say I'm not hugely blown away by this palette in that I will obsessively use it every day but I think it is a nice addition to my collection and will be used. For the price point I think it's worth the money and taking a punt on as the shadows are nice but I can't lie and say I'm not disappointed that they don't swatch as the same beautiful colours they look in the pan.

Have you tried out this palette yet?? Let me know what you think in the comments! Oh and by the way I joined Pinterest recently so if you want to follow me there you can here. Keep an eye out for my next post about what I bought in my mini haul!

That Velvet Feeling - Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet

Unless you have been living under a rock recently, or are a man who has stumbled across this blog looking to hear of mountaineering adventures (in which case I'm sorry to inform you you've come to the wrong place) then you will have heard that Bourjois have just released their Rouge Edition Velvet liquid lipsticks. I heard a lot about them in the 'blogosphere' and couldn't wait to get my hands on them even though I've been trying to be good (but was it my fault that my concelear ran out and Boots had a 3 for 2 sale??).

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet liquid lipstick

When I was buying this lipstick I just wasn't sure which colour to get because they have such a pretty range of colours that are all very 'me', but in the end I went for the colour Pink Pong as I don't have any other lipsticks this colour (I know, I know stop trying to justify it Chloe). 

Stop...Artistic swatch time

First thing I thought when I was applying this is how difficult that actually is to do. You know I love my Rimmel Apocalips, which are also liquid lipsticks, and I've never found them particularly difficult to apply. However the Rouge Edition Velvet lipsticks are different in that when you first start to use the applicator there is tons of product there, however the formula is not as thick so, unless you keep dipping the applicator back into the product, after a while the colour will be uneven across your lips with some areas with lots of product and some with a more sheer coverage (basically it's not a couple of sweeps across the lips and done as with the Rimmel Apocalips).

Despite the faff that goes in to into applying this (I do my best to even it out then cover any extra patches with my Maybelline Coloursensational lipstick in Shocking Coral which adds extra vibrancy) you do have to hand it to Bourjois that most of the claims they make do actually stand up. 

The lipstick is certainly matte and is aptly named 'Velvet' as it does have this strange velvety feel which at first seriously freaked me out (I don't know why but I had the same reaction to velvet nails too) but now I'm getting used to it. Also their claim for 24 hour wear seems to stand up too (although I haven't tried it out for the full 24 hours) since, despite taking my makeup off last night, I still had a slight hint of colour still on my lips this morning and (although yes I do wash thanks for asking) I am still waiting for the colour from the swatches I did yesterday to leave my hand (thus my artistic swatch above). 

Me wearing the Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick with my Maybelline
Coloursensational lipstick on top (which is why it's shiny not matte)

All in all I would say that although this isn't the best liquid lipstick out there (it won't replace the Rimmel Apocalips in my heart) I do really love the colour and will probably continue to use it with my Maybelline lipstick it just hasn't blown my mind and become a holy grail product sadly. 

Have you tried this out yet?? What did you think??

The Quest For The Perfect Foundation - YSL Le Teint Touche

In my last post I talked about how many lipsticks I have and how do you know when too much is too much and if I'm honest I have the same approach to everything. Things are always catching my eye and I want to try out the newer, fancier, shinier, prettier version be it makeup, skincare, clothes, technology or even stationary (yes I am a stationary geek). But one thing for me that I stick with through thick and thin is my foundation.

Now I won't lie and say I religiously purchase the same foundation over and over as, like many beauty bloggers before me, I am still searching for the ultimate foundation which will make me look permanently airbrushed, and gorgeous, yet won't be drying, break me out or look overly greasy (is that really too much to ask?). However I think I've gotten pretty damn close with my latest attempt.

I received the YSL Touche Éclat for Christmas and instantly fell in love. It made my skin look glowing (something that's tricky for my slightly dry, dull skin) and would have been so much more effective if I wasn't using a combination of my Mum's Estée Lauder Double Wear which was too light for her but too dark and full coverage for me and a different foundation I'd bought at the hight of summer when I was really tanned and therefore by Christmas was completely the wrong shade.

I am in the shade B10

I kept researching different foundations to try and considered the likes of Nars Sheer Glow etc. which are always very highly thought of but then I started hearing good things about YSL's Le Teint Touche Éclat. I want to say that I made my decision to buy this foundation was based solely upon the great reviews I heard but sadly it pains me to say that it just looked too pretty to refuse! I mean can we just pause for a minute to appreciate the packaging; sleek, glass, minimal, with a pump and oh so luxury I didn't have the will power to not buy it.

Le Teint Touche Éclat is supposed to basically give the radiance that the Touche Éclat gives but all over the face. I would say that it achieves this quite well; the radiance isn't as concentrated as it is in the Touche Éclat but I'm not sure that you would want that anyway! It does however brighten up my skin and give it an injection of life and vitality (which I particularly appreciate when I roll into class at 9:00am having not gone to bed till 3:00am).

Also this foundation is really good at evening my skin tone and covering blemishes. It isn't full coverage so you will want to use concelear for any serious under eye circles or if you've got any spots but for me it evens out any patches of redness and blots out any of those annoying red acne scars that take forever to fade away.

The only draw back I can say about this is that, in my experience, it doesn't go very far. The coverage is really buildable and for a more sheer amount of coverage I use just one pump but for days when I am a bit more spotty or suffering more redness I will use two pumps and because of this I don't think it has lasted as long as some of the other foundations I've used where I didn't feel like I had to apply as much. However it lasts all day on the skin and I only really need to top it up if I'm going out in the evening which is nice (especially if you're as expressive as me and therefore constantly touching your face and smearing your makeup everywhere).

Overall I would say this foundation is the closest to perfection I've gotten so far, wearing it makes me feel flawless and fabulous and (if for no other reason) I'd buy it again just to keep looking at the bottle!

How Much Is Too Much?

So as I said in my last post I've been home for the easter holidays this week and its been pretty hectic to say the least. But now all the running from place to place has died down a little and the "Oh my God I haven't seen you in ages! What have you been up to?"s are becoming fewer and fewer I can finally sit down and give my little blog a bit of much needed TLC.

In my very first post I told you how much I love lipstick and how it is one of my favourite makeup items. I also said how I tend to choose which lipstick to wear based upon how I'm feeling. This made packing my makeup for coming home quite difficult since I don't happen to have psychic powers (despite my childhood idolisation of 'That's So Raven') and so I don't know how I'll be feeling and therefore what lipsticks I shall be reaching for at the end of my month at home (yes I know 'bloody uni students do no work').

Therefore when I was packing lipsticks I took the same tact as I did with my clothes; if you think you might want it, take it (which is why I needed to bring two suitcases home...no packing light is not one of my strengths). However today when I was finally sorting out all of my bags out I realised I'd brought quite a lot of lipstick and when I counted I had 10! 10!

That seemed like quite a lot but then when I went through them I figured I'd probably covered all of my bases with what I had and all of them would get used. It was at this point I began to wonder how many is too many?? At what point do I stop being a girl with a lot of lipsticks and become a lipstick addict?? Will I need to go to LAA??? (Lipstick Addicts Anonymous, not as exciting as going to LA unfortunately).

It didn't help that today I went with my mum to Boots to help her choose a new lipstick and lipgloss and found out that she only ever needs the combination of the two to get by. Just two! For every occasion!

However now thinking about it more rationally I have begun to reach the conclusion that maybe everyone has their right amount of lipsticks. It's a bit like if you were to climb a mountain my mum would be there with a small rucksack and a thick coat while I would be there with all the materials to build a house and live quite comfortably for many years to come. Carrying on with this metaphor my mum may occasionally have to borrow a pick axe or a glove when some unforeseen circumstance comes along (no I don't know anything about climbing mountains how did you guess??) but generally she'll be fine.

Hopefully you stuck with me through that rather random and slightly too elaborate metaphor! Now for the good bit; the break down of what I brought with me...

- Maybelline Colour Sensational in Shocking Coral (and Neon Red), Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple and Rimmel Apocalips Lip Laquer in Big Bang my three favourite summery lipsticks at the minute (I mentioned them in my first post in more detail) 

- Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey and the Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Standout both of these feel very smooth and lovely on the lips, Honey is for when I want just a little bit of colour and Standout is for when I want a red that is not going to budge no matter how much I eat/drink

- M&S Limited Lipstick in Plum Shine I'm not sure if this was just out for Christmas or not but if it isn't you should definitely try it! Just applied it doesn't have great staying power but blotted down it becomes a lovely purpley pink with slightly blue tinged glitter which catches the light and makes a statement (sounds awful but I promise is really nice and I'm always getting complimented on it!)

- Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Hibiscus great for righting chapped lips and provides just a little colour...nuff said really

- Sleek Matte True Colour Lipstick in Mystic not the most hydrating of lipsticks but the colour is so gorgeous it makes up for it (you can see me wearing it in this post)

- Topshop Lipstick in Beguiled a dark red this is my go to night out lipstick since it goes with pretty much anything and always makes a statement!

When I'm Old(er) I Shall Wear Purple

When I was in first school there was a big thing about reading poems to us in assemblies. As a result there are loads of very random poems I seem to be able to quote due to the fact that there was a very limited store of poetry and about every moth each poem was re-read to us on rotation. The three I can remember most vividly were a nonsensical poem about the oojamaflip, a (frankly disturbing) poem which used the lifecycle of the blackberry plant as some weird metaphor for death (that one was particularly popular around harvest time) and 'When I'm Old I Shall Wear Purple' by Jenny Joseph. The last was probably my favourite. It's about a woman who decides that when she's old she can get away with anything and she goes around in bright purple clothes doing all the things we secretly want to and living life to the full (i.e a premonition of my own behaviour when I reach that age).

I guess the reason why I've thought of this poem when writing this post is because of:
1. The colour connection
2. That 'why not?' attitude.

Rimmel Scandeleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal
eyeliner in purple

Over the Christmas holidays I went on a mad make-up binge (which I mentioned in my previous post) and one of the things I bought was a Rimmel Scandleyes  purple eyeliner. I had just read somewhere that purple on the eyes really brings out the colour of green eyes and (although I have strange eyes which in various lights appear to be various different colours to different people) I am considered by at least half the people I meet to have green eyes. So I thought I'd mix it up and give purple liner a try. The only thing is I used it twice, got distracted by other stuff I'd bought and forgot about it...that is until this morning.

Slightly scary eyes but the eyeliner looks nice!

Don't ask me why but this morning I just felt like doing something a bit different. A bit (as one of my flatmates would say) 'snazzy'. So I was rummaging through my makeup drawers and found the purple eyeliner and decided to go for it.

Very subtly purple

The other times when I'd used this eyeliner I felt a bit strange, I don't really wear much colour on my eyes, and I felt like someone in a syfy movie where they think its a good idea to stick random bright colours just on their face to make them look 'futuristic'. If I'm honest I can't exactly remember how I used it over Christmas (I think at one point I tried it with green eyeshadow...not wise) but today I decided to do a really neutral eyeshadow look and then use the pop of purple as the main thing and I think it really worked.

My face

I paired it with my Sleek Matte True Colour Lipstick in Mystic, which is another product I bought ages ago on a whim and then quickly forgot about and I like the purple with blue/pink effect. I just got quite excited about this this morning and thought I'd share it with you...after all why not right???

Eyeshadows For A True Romantic - True Romance Eyeshadow Palette

After another busy day at uni I'm counting down the days till the Easter holidays when I can go back home and just chill for a little while. Of course that will probably involve some shopping (what better way to relax??) and when I was home for Christmas I think the excitement of not having to buy a weekly food shop for a while caused me to go a little overboard with my shopping i.e buy practically everything in Boots (of course I joke...I didn't buy nappies or mens shaving cream).

One of the many makeup purchases I made over the Christmas break was the Kat Von D True Romance eyeshadow palette in Saint. I'd been getting bored of my Urban Decay Naked palette (which is excellent btw) and was looking for something to change it up a bit and excite me into creating new eye looks. There were various different palettes I was considering but after many unsuccessful trips around Newcastle I decided upon this one.

L-R heavens, enjoy the silence, <3, downtown,
sunny, pray for me, bookworm, caravaggio

I saw it first in one of Essie Button's beauty videos on YouTube and thought the shadow colours looked beautiful (also the packaging is amazing!). Kat Von D was like my idol when I went through an emo faze in middle school and although sadly (in my opinion) LA Ink started getting a bit boring and samey I can't help but admit the middle school Chloe inside of me couldn't wait to get her hands on some of Kat's makeup line. Unfortunately the Kat Von D makeup line isn't widely available here in England and although you can get items off ebay, Amazon etc. I never 100% trust sellers with makeup which is so easy to knock off to a lower quality so instead I purchased mine from Rose's Beauty Store. This site is great if you want to get your hands on something which isn't really available here but is in America, you will pay more than you would if you bought it in America but trust me the difference is way less than a flight.

Pretty packaging

When the palette first arrived the first thing I noticed was the packaging. First off the cardboard box it all comes in is so pretty (but sadly I don't still have it so I don't have a picture to show you). Then there is the packaging of the palette. It is black with a rose design (my favourite flower) stamped onto it with the Kat Von D logo embossed on top. I have read reviews where people complain that the packaging feels very plasticy and cheap and I would say it doesn't feel extremely luxe. However it is in keeping with Kat's overall aesthetic and middle school Chloe enjoys that very much. 

Lovely neutrals

Now to the bit you've all been waiting for...the shadows themselves. They are all really pigmented and beautiful to wear (my personal favourite is downtown, the rose gold shade). All of the shadows are shimmery apart from caravaggio (which is a matt dark brown) and <3, and bookworm (which both contain chunks of glitter). I do love this palette so much and use it almost every day in conjunction with my Naked palette or other shadows as, despite the fact it is so neutral, I do find it difficult to create looks only using these shadows due to its lack of matt colours, which I prefer to use for blending. Also I would recommend using a good primer (mine is Urban Decay's primer potion) underneath these shadows as they are quite powdery and so you have to be careful to avoid fall out when applying them. I would also say press your brush into the pans rather than dragging it across (as I found the hard way this just makes a total mess). These aside however I think the colour pay off of these is fantastic, they are very easy to wear and...you never know I might be tempted to try another one of these palettes over the Easter holidays! I can hear my bank account complaining now....

Swatch of (L-R): heavens, enjoy the silence, <3, downtown and sunny

Swatch of (L-R): pray for me, bookworm, caravaggio

In Search of the Perfect Pout

I love makeup. Ask anyone! Well ok maybe not anyone in the whole world but anyone who knows me. My friends, family, flatmates they'll all tell you the same: that yes I do...maybe a little bit too much...

One of the makeup items I love the most is lipstick. Don't ask me why, I just do. However there seems to be some sort of science to choosing what lipstick to wear. One of my friends told me she only ever needs two; a red and a neutral. However if anyone has seen my lipstick drawer then they know I clearly do not share in this minimalist approach. Another one of my friends never chooses her lipstick until she has done her eye makeup. Although I agree with this philosophy to a point I'm not that bothered if they match perfectly so long as I don't look like a drag queen or an explosion in a colour factory!

My lipstick drawer

I realise that I'm making this sound like a big issue. I will admit that this is not on par with say, choosing which wire to cut to disarm a bomb, or being the leader of a country. Those both involve far more important decisions. However the right lipstick can make the difference between being fabulous and sexy and looking like you got ready in the dark...without a mirror...when you're colour blind.

Personally, how I'm feeling largely dictates which lipstick I choose. At the minute, after feeling like I've spent months in hibernation during the depths of winter, I'm ready for a bit of summer (and it seems like at least half the time the weather is agreeing with me). As a result of this summery feeling my lipstick choices are becoming summery too!

So, while I've been leaving the house in optimistically short skirts and bare legs, debating if the weather really is nice enough to leave my jacket at home (then deciding halfway through the day I'm too cold and coming back to get it) my lipstick has been one of the following three bright combinations:

Maybelline Colour Sensational in Shocking Coral

Looks slightly orangey in this photo - be kind I'm new to this!

I've seen this colour recommended by so many beauty youtubers and bloggers and every time I've walked past the makeup counters I've stopped to look at the tester and gone "Oh no thats so not the colour I thought it was!" and admittedly in the tube it does look like the colour favoured by my Nana. However after much coaxing I took the plunge and never looked back. Actually wearing it rather than staring at it the colour becomes much more flattering and vibrant coral/pink (not grannyish don't worry) and as a result is the perfect summer colour!

Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple

More sheer than it looks, promise!

I've been really liking this colour for more understated lips recently, which is something I don't do very often as 'understated' is not really a word that can be used to describe me. However this adds a slight orangey toned red hue to the lips and also makes me look slightly more tanned (a feat all on its own).

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Laquer in Big Bang

Excuse my chipped nails!

This is not a lipstick for the faint hearted! As it comes in like a gloss form I would say you have to be really careful to make sure you don't go too far outside your lip line or it will genuinely look like you've been bleeding from the mouth (attractive!). I prefer to blot this after I've applied it anyway because it brings out the orangey tones in the red (yes there is a theme developing!). Blotting will also help to prevent the colour bleeding and keep your lipstick from leaving large red rings marking your territory on every glass you drink out of. 

Below are swatches on my hand of all three colours:

L-R: Candy Apple, Big Bang, Shocking Coral

What's your favourite lipstick at the minute???