Top 5 Summer Blushers!

My top summer blush shades that are sure to make your skin soar!

Sleek – Life’s a Peach

Firstly I adore the slim and sophisticated packaging across the Sleek blushers. Secondly this is a beautiful highly pigmented tangerine/peach matte blusher that looks great lighly applied – and I mean lightly as the colour pay off really is insane. It looks fantastic with dewy skin and is great for us pale girls!

Gosh – Flower Power

One of my favourite blushes of all time this is a stunning summery shade that works well on all skin tones. A really classic pink I turn to this when I’m wearing a sheer lip balm on a warm day, it really is a lovely colour that suits everyone.

Sleek – Pixie Pink

A cool toned pink shade that rivals some of the high end versions. Again super pigmented I love this one swept over the cheeks when I’m on holiday or have a bit of a natural glow as it doesn’t add any red tones to my already flushed skin but makes me look healthy!

Maxfactor Cream Puff – Lovely Pink

This shimmery blusher is the very lightest of baby pinks and almost has a muted neon tone to it. It’s great as an everyday colour and works well if you’re in a rush as it acts like a blush and highlighter in one!

Eye Spy: Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Pencils

I’m a big fan of smudgy smoky eye make-up looks and this probably comes as no surprise to those who’ve been reading for a while. I like both my hair and makeup to look a little un-done as I feel it suits me best and as I have quite large features therefore I think it looks less ‘try hard’. Plus I’m no makeup artist and don’t feel I could master a really precise eye look perfectly. I admire the handy word of Charlotte Tilbury and Val Garland who tend to favour (but not always) worn in looks!

I came across the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Pencils when on the hunt for a budget nude eyeliner. The one in this line is beautifully creamy and long lasting, no need to spend a single penny more on one! Having used this for a few weeks I popped into my local Superdrug to pick up the black and true to form it was stunningly soft and looked very C.T when smudged on the lower lash-line using a pencil brush with plenty of mascara.

I’m not the biggest wearer of colour on my eyes though I was intrigued to try the plumb/purple shade and found I wore it surprisingly regularly on my upper lash-line with a sweep of Satin Taupe by MAC for an easy yet dramatic look! Most recently I picked up the Electric Blue after seeing a Lily Pebbles tutorial and thought this would be a great way of introducing some colour. I’ve played about with the product so I know it performs well yet haven’t had the chance or the courage to wear it in public yet.

This line is highly comparable with the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on eye pencils which I seriously love and they’re only a snip at £3.99! If you’d like a demo post on how I wear these please do let me know in the comments below.

Lip Liner: not just for your school disco in ’95!

I love lipstick and nearly as much as lipstick I love lip liner. More often than not I believe that MAC produce the best lip liners around and to a degree I stand by that. However… there’s a high street brand that’s knocking the ball out of the park when it comes to lip liners and that’s Gosh Cosmetics. I love Gosh and feel the quality of their products are a hairs breath away from being as good as MAC. Though the colour range is limited I have four fabulous colours which I adore. The texture of each of them is comfortable, creamy and long-lasting!

Cardinal Red – the truest pillar box red, it’s a beautiful punchy colour that looks great under my blue toned red lipsticks.

Raspberry Dream – this is a stunning berry red that I predominantly use under MAC Plumful to give me a stunning pop of winter loveliness.

Nougat Crisp – though not pictured below (it was in a makeup bag at the time!) this is a beautiful easy to wear nude that doesn’t make you look dead. It has just enough pink in it and looks lovely layered under MAC Viva Glam in V or Rimmel Kate Moss in 08.

Antique Rose – probably my second favourite this is a soft warm rose tone that is a great dupe for MAC Soar lip liner. It’s really easy to wear and is a good one for doing a ‘Kylie Jenner’ lip look.

Flirty Orange – in my opinion is the star of the show. It’s a bright, bold orange that really knocks your socks off. I often wear this on its own over a little clear balm and I get an insane amount of compliments when I do!

These lip liners only cost £4.99 and are available nationwide at Superdrug or online HERE

Brush Washing Boredom – Cheap Brush Cleaning!

Having been a beauty junkie for some time I can safely say the thing I hate most about wearing and loving makeup so much is the need to wash your makeup brushes.  

Despite being a pain in the neck to do, it really is very beneficial as it will improve the application of makeup (clogged brushes make makeup look streaky) and they’ll get rid of the gunk and bacteria that grow in them. Many sufferers of spots see a noticeable different in their skin when they’ve given their brushes a good wash.

For us normal everyday gals i.e. non-makeup artists you want to be washing your brushes properly at least every two weeks if not weekly. Obviously it depends how many brushes you have as if you have more it’s unlikely they’ll be as in need of a wash as perhaps they’re used less regularly? Below are my tips for washing your makeup brushes cheaply and effectively…

1. Fill a sink with tepid water (anything too warm will melt the glue used to hold the bristles in the brush).

2. In the palm of your hand mix a little olive oil and a little shower gel – ideally a moisturising one. Both of these products will lift the product from your brushes whilst norishing the bristles!

3. Swirl the head of the brush in the oil/shower gel mix and massage into the bristles. 

4. Rinse them in the tepid water making sure you get rid of any left over product or oil/showergel mix.

5. Lay your brushes on a towel over the edge of a table or similar to allow the brushes to dry naturally. If you need to shape them with your fingers first to retain the shape of the brush do so now.

6. Spray a little scented leave in conditioner, it will nourish your natural hair brushes and stop them from smelling of olive oil. 

7. Leave to dry overnight in a warm room. Do not get impatient and be tempted to use a hair dryer on them. This will completely ruin the shape of the brush.

I find this method more effective than any pricey brush cleaners out there. I’ve used brush cleaners by Boots No•7 and MAC but neither give a deep enough clean. Though they do work well for spot-cleansing and are great for more dramatic looks where you’ll be switching out colours regularly! I think it’s really important to look after your brushes as they’re really not cheap as a good set will put you back around £50. I hope this helps some of you and do let me know if you’d like a post on my favourite brushes? 

   

Sunday Makeup: Keeping it ‘au naturel’

For me Sunday’s predominantly consist of lie-in’s, long walks, blogging and Sunday lunch at my Mum and Dads… oh and occasionally nursing a mother of a hangover. So for all these ‘activities’ I want easy makeup, that doesn’t take long to apply yet makes me look a little fresher faced and ready to face my husband/family/the general public.

For me Sunday makeup should consist of no more than 4 products and should really just be an enhancement of your natural features and not even anything close to representing what some may call a ‘look’. Lately I tend to opt for the following…

Base: Dr Jart BB Cream

After moisturising I like to slap a little of this nice medium weight BB cream that’s got a very subtle amount of coverage. I’m not really a great lover of the whole BB/CC/EE cream hype but I do like this Dr Jart one as I feel it best likens itself to a tinted moisturiser and doesn’t have that slipy silicone-like feel on the skin.

Eyes: Maybelline Colossal Mascara in Black

This is probably my favourite mascara (my search for a perfect one still continues) but this is a nice one that gives me a decent amount of length and volume without being clumpy or spidery. If built it can give you full on night-out lashes but a single coat frames the eyes and gives you a little more definition!

Lips: Clinique Chubby Stick in Oversized Orange

There are hundreds of dupes and copies for the Clinique Chubby Sticks so please do go and find an alternative however this orange shade makes lips look a little juicer and fundamentally brightens the face whilst adding hydration, it’s a lovely summer shade but any tinted balm will do.

Finish: Gosh Bronzer in Natural Glow

To give my face a little colour (which frankly it needs after a night of drinking G&T’s) I apply a little bronzer to give myself a bit of a pick me up. I don’t contour I just dust it lightly round the perimeters of my face and slightly over my cheeks.

Summer Brights!

With summer coming (kind of!) it’s the ideal excuse to dig out my favourite bright lip products. Predominantly I wear different shades of red/plumb during the winder months but during the summer I love nothing more than sunny colours that instantly transform your look. I think there’s a bright lip for everyone whether you choose a more subtle balmy option or a full on matte colour it’s really about working the trends to your advantage and personal taste/style!

My favourite picks are as follows…

Este Lauder Colour Pure Colour Lipstick in Defiant Coral

These lipsticks have got to be some of my favourite formulations, they’re super creamy and comfortable and to be honest I often forget I’m wearing such a bold shade. Defiant Coral is a coral/pink shade that really flatters fair skin but also looks great on a red head through to a woman of colour. It’s a really universally flattering tone that’s super easy to apply!

Topshop Lipstick in Infrared

This has got something of a cult following due to the likes of Zoella making the shade pretty famous. It’s a really zingy, bold orange that looks super gorgeous layered over the Gosh Cosmetics lip liner in Flirty Orange. It looks stunning with a tan and is one that I reach to for an instantaneous pick me up.

MUA Lipstick in 13

This is a really hot chilli red colour that’s blue in tone meaning it’s super flattering to your teeth! It’s a really bright poppy red that really livens up your makeup. It’s a creamy formula which I normally don’t favour in a red lip but the moisturising look of this lipstick make it look a little more day-time appropriate.

Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipstick in 06

This eyewateringly bright pink shade is one that I go back to time and time again. It’s a hot cerise pink that really compliments my pale skin and is blue in tone so again doesn’t make my teeth look yellow. It’s a colour that I turn to when I want to make a statement but I’m short of time! It lasts brilliantly on the lips and is one that I must get a back up of as I’ve never found a shade quite as good since.

The Pale Girl Tanning Guide

Being a pale girl tanning was always my nemesis, in addition to that I had a good few years as a penniless student and struggled to find a natural tan that wouldn’t break my student loan in one day.

It’s also probably worth me mentioning that I’ve never really been the greatest fan of a spray-tan either as I can’t bare the whole sticky, wandering around in baggy black clothes for a day and night before the event. I also find they make me an unnatural orangey colour (except St Tropez) and absolutely reek of a McVitie’s factories finest!

I initially tried St Mortiz that while served me well as a student made me a very dark unnatural deep ‘fake tan brown’ and seemed to leak over every surface. I also tried Johnsons Holiday Skin, which was pretty much the first daily moisturiser/tan product on the market. I was awful at applying it as it had no colour guide and I seemed to wake up looking like a zebra crossing.

Longwear Tanning

In recent years I’ve found my favourite and ultimate tan, Cocoa Brown 1 hr Tan. I love the stuff as it’s non-sticky, has a good colour guide and is super easy to build to achieve your desired colour. It also doesn’t smell quite as strongly of digestives and is the perfect tone for my pale skin. Here’s my guide to how I think it really works…

1 hr – slight glow

2-4 hrs – medium glow

5-6 hrs – warm tan

Overnight – deep tan

I love the fact that this stuff doesn’t transfer onto my clothes and I can apply it in the morning ready for a night out in the evening. In addition to this I love the fact that it lasts really well for up to a week and doesn’t wear off in a patchy gross mess!

Short-term Tanning

If I’m going out last minute, don’t have time do to a full tan or I’m already bronzed and I want a little boost I turn to two different wash-off tans. My favourites are the Rimmel Stars Matte Wash-off Tan in Light and the St Tropez One Night Only – Instant Glow. Both of these are great products, the Rimmel one is fantastic value for money and the St Tropez seems to go on nice and evenly.

Below is my tanning routine to achieve a streak free, natural finish…

• In the shower I start by using a coarse exfoliator such as the SenSpa Detox Body Scrub. This one doesn’t aggravate my eczema prone skin and gets rid of any nasty rough patches.
• I then shave using a new razor and always use a shaving cream, my favourite is the First Aid Beauty Smooth Shave Cream which gives a really close shave without stripping the skin.
• When out of the shower I pat my skin dry to avoid irritation and apply a fast absorbing moisturiser. I like the Almond Milk Concentrate from L’occitane which is both light and super nourishing!
• I let this absorb – this is really key otherwise the tan won’t penetrate your skin enough for it to actually tan. Then apply the Cocoa Brown 1hr Tan (which comes out in a mouse texture) and buff into the skin using circular motions on a mitt. I pick these up from Superdrug or Poundland!
• Wait! As my mum would say, ‘patients is a virtue’ it doesn’t take long and if you’re heading to bed even better. Make sure you sleep in loose fitting clothing and wear your hair up, there’s nothing worse than a tan free halo around your shoulder-blades.

The ‘Beauty Blogger Quiz’ a little F.Y.I

Reminding me of the quiz’s I did as a sullen 16 year old on Myspace I thought I’d answer the ‘Beauty Blogger Quiz’ – these are some of my favourites to read so thought I’d give it a go…

Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

Stupidly straight, I’m a big fan of a pair of GHD’s, a bit of dry shampoo and a little hairspray to give it some body, wave and texture.

What is your natural hair colour?

A medium very uninspiring brown shade. I’m looking to get it coloured soon as I’ve had an 8 month colour break and feel like it really needs a lift of some kind. If you have any ideas of what you think might suit me then please drop a note in the comments below!

Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

Predominantly I go to a salon as I’ve had some pretty horrendous home dying experiences which have resulted in platinum blonde and black hair in times gone by. Of late my colourist tends to do balayage, highlights or a toner to give me a much more natural look something I wish I could go back and tell my 17 year old self!

Do you wear the same style every day or do you change it?

For work I tend to wear my hair in a half up style using a small grabber clip. It gives me the illusion of having my hair down whilst keeping it out of my face. On my days off I tend to wave it using GHD’s and mess it up with a little product. I don’t ever like hair that looks to ‘done’ so the messier the better!

Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?

The Salon – 100% it’s my one vice and a little moment in the week that I have for myself. It may seem excessive but without a good dash of gel nail polish I feel like I’ve left the house without wearing pants! I’ve had Jessica Geleration applied every other week for the last 3 years and before that had acrylics. I’d recommend it to absolutely anyone!

How often do you change your nail polish?

Every other week at the salon. I tend to favour nude or deep reds but occasionally I get bored and opt for coral or blue.

Do you polish your toes in winter or just in the summer?

Just for summer or when I’m wearing peep toe shoes – don’t deny you’ve never just painted the visible ones when you can’t be bothered… we’ve all been there!

How long does it take for you to put on your make-up?

Anything from 10 minutes to an hour, it really depends how much time I have and what I’m trying to do. Of a morning it probably takes me 15 minutes to do my makeup for work but it’s more important to me to be wearing a full face of make-up than a perfect outfit.

What do you do first, face or eyes?

Base, base, base – I like to give it a little time for it to settle into my skin as I feel like it looks better that way.

Do you collect make-up or just buy what you need when you need it?

I’m not just a collector I’m a hoarder, though I don’t buy things I don’t genuinely think I’ll use! Beauty is my hobby and my passion and ultimately that means it dominates most of my pay cheque too!

How often do you wear false eyelashes?

Never! I’ve mentioned more than once on here that I can’t bare looking more tipsy than I am on a night out just because an eyelash is hanging off at the edge. I want to master applying lashes and think I need to start with finding a pair that don’t make me look like a drag queen.

Do you do a full face of make-up every day?

Yes, in some way shape or form I always have at least four products on my face. On a day to day basis for work I wear foundation, powder, blusher, bronzer, highlighter, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara and some kind of lip product, which is definitely what I’d say was a full face!

Do you wear make-up when you are home alone or with family?

Again yes, the only time you’ll catch me without it is when it’s Sunday morning and I’m laying in bed with my husband, a cup of tea and a book OR I’m going to the gym/for a run.

Will you leave the house without make-up?

See above – me without makeup just doesn’t feel like me!

How many high-end products do you have?

As a collector I have quite a bit, I’d hate to count.

Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you’re getting dressed?

As someone who’s pretty OCD I like to plan what I’m wearing the night before. I also don’t like waking my husband up in the morning so unless it’s the weekend I’ve pretty much always got what I’m wearing laid out.

How often do you change your handbag?

Rarely, I tend to have one handbag and use it until it falls apart. Unless its a night out where I’ll use a clutch 9 times out of 10 I’ll be carrying a large black tote bag. The one I’m using at the moment is Longchamp one my husband bought me for Christmas.

What time do you get up and go to sleep?

I rise at around 7:00am and head to sleep at about 11:00pm – I need a good 8 hours a night to function!

Do you work out? How often?

I’m ‘training’ for a 10K and at the moment have been running twice a week and sometimes three times a week. In addition to this I walk an hour everyday with my colleagues at work.

Left-handed or right-handed?

Righty!

How tall are you?

5 ft 2.5 – they don’t make diamonds as big as potatoes.

Do you speak a foreign language?

I’m not sure GCSE French counts, no.

How many pets do you have?

None, my parents have cats… as soon as me and my husband move to our new home I can’t wait to have animals!

Do you read comments on blogs?

Yes and I like to reply to every single one!

Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

Yes, I’m that sad! I keep a list in my iPhone of things I want.

How did you come up with your blog name?

I always liked taking pictures of my makeup before heading to work and used this to inspire the posts I was writing. When you say ‘I wonder what a day in her shoes would be like’ it makes you think about that persons likes, opinions and lifestyle and I guess that’s what I wanted to talk about regarding beauty.

What kind of camera do you use for photographs?

Either my iPhone 6 or my Cannon point and shoot.

How often do you clean your house?

Daily – I love my home to be really tidy… I also have a cleaner every two weeks to keep things as I like them.

What is your favourite colour?

Coral or navy blue but I live-and-die in black and white clothing!

Do you swear?

Not in malice, more in an expressive way… I’d certainly never swear AT someone.

What are you doing with the rest of your day?

Sleeping, it’s 9:30pm and I can’t wait to jump into the shower and catch some zzz’s…

April Favourites

April has come and gone so quickly I can’t quite believe it! Here are a few of my very favorite products that I’ve been really enjoying throughout the month… Makeup Revolution Eyeshadow in Mocca Being a fair skinned girl I’ve found it super hard to find a contour shade that mimics a true shadow colour on my skin. When browsing the aisles of Superdrug a couple of weeks ago I found this lovely grey/brown matte eyeshadow by makeup revolution and have been using it as a contour shade to add a little definition to my very round face. It’s a nice cool tone that’s super pigmented so you only need the tiniest bit but it’s such a great buy for only £1!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Fearless As spring is coming it’s definitely the time for me to dig out my pink blushes. This one by Tarte is beautifully pigmented and is a really flattering shade of mid pink and one I’ve reached for paired with dewy skin and a subtle highlighter.

Boots 17 Lipstick in Make An Entrance This lipstick is a a beautiful orange toned red that really packs a punch. As a huge fan of a red lipstick this is a matte colour that isn’t too drying and has been my fail safe ‘I haven’t done my makeup but I gotta get out the door’ look.

Elf Lip Balm in Peaceful Pink After placing my last order with Elf cosmetics (R.I.P Elf) I popped on this tinted balm as a little hand bag lip product that would be good on the go. As a lipstick girl I tend to opt for a balm if I want a softer more natural look. This balm gives just a hint of coral and makes everything nice and rosy on a work day!

Revlon Highlighting Palette in Rose Glow A total dupe for Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose Quartz this Revlon version is a little more day time appropriate. Perfect for spring it gives a subtle pink glow with the tiniest hint of shimmer!

My Top 5 Cream Products

With summer around the corner cream products give a lighter, more radiant and glowing look to the skin and often enhance the complexion and add longevity to your products. From lips to eyes I’ve listed my top 5 favourites that I’d definitely recommend you give a go!

Laura Mercier Metallic Crème Eyeshadow – Burnished Copper

I’m a sucker for a cream shadow and have used them for years. For me they enhance the pigmentation and longevity of my eyeshadow. This has to be one of my all-time favourite products and certainly is at the top of my list of cream Eyeshadows. The small squeezy tube isn’t the best packaging in the world but the product inside is a lightweight cream shadow that blends beautifully over the eye. The colour burnished copper is a beautiful warm orangey brown that looks great with Urban Decay’s Hustle layered over. I use this day or night but my favourite way is as a base for bronze toned shadows as it really makes them pop!

MAC Cream Colour Base – Hush

2014/2015 really has been the year of the glow, we’ve been going crazy for products that enhance our natural radiance and make our skin appear youthful and hydrated. Personally MAC’s cream colour base is a beautiful cream highlighter with a peachy sheen that when applied to the cheek looks stunningly natural. I tend to just pat it on with my fingers to my cheek bones but add a little with a blending brush to my brow bone for added definition.

Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow – Copper

I was really impressed when I came across this product in boots, the formula of these cream shadows is really wet yet sets brilliantly. This deep brown (I wouldn’t really call it copper) is a wet whipped formula that I tend to apply initially with my fingers and blend out with a fluffy blending brush. It looks good on its own but I personally like to layer a warm brown in the crease (a bronzer works fine too) and then use a liquid liner for a feline flick! It’s a night time look that can be achieved in only a few minutes.

Revlon Cream Blusher – Charmed

Revlon has to be my favourite drugstore/pharmacy brand due to the fantastic quality of their products. This little baby has been a key feature in my makeup collection for a couple of years alongside my Stila Convertible Colours. This looks fairly deep in tone in the pot however applied with a stippling brush it gives a natural flush of colour to the cheeks. It seems to be very trans-seasonal and lasts me throughout the summer and winter months. Paired with a nude lip and a bronzed eye this is totally an every-day makeup staple.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick – Underage Red

Okay, so I’m cheating a bit but I had to pay a special mention to these beautiful liquid lipsticks. I got my first one from a Sephora Christmas set and have been completely hooked ever since. This has an easy doefoot applicator and lasts even through burrito consumption (yes, I’ve tried it) my personal favourite colour is the Underage Red which really is your classic bright true red colour. It’s definitely blue toned and super comfortable on the lips. I challenge you to find a better liquid lipstick, it really is pretty amazing!