Spring Products Review.

Spring is here! 

So, apologies in advance for the quality of the pictures used in today's post.. Apparently losing your camera charger is just as annoying as losing your actual camera (but a bit less expensive of course.)

And, with my stubbornness making it impossible for me to go out and buy a new one as I know I have it somewhere.. All my of today's pictures are taken using my IPhone 5s.

Recently, I've found myself running out of the basics so not too long ago I had a bit of a mini Superdrug cosmetics haul so I thought I'd show you my findings! 

LIPSTICK: 

L'oreal Colour Riche // Blake Red £6.99 

This lipstick. Wow. I've said it before and I'll say it again, a good matte lipstick is all a girl needs in life! I am literally always on the hunt for more and more matte and when I first saw this collection come out, I was instantly drawn to it because of the pigmentation of it and, well, Eva Longoria on the adverts. 

It applies super easily and is extremely moisturising which is always a godsend for fellow matte lipstick wearers.

LIP BALM:

EOS Lip Balm // £13.99

Although this technically from Superdrug.. Following on nicely from my last item, lipbalm is something that has become increasingly necessary in my life after alllll the matte lipstick I wear sucks up all of the hydration in my poor lips! My mum actually brought this little lovely back from her trip to LA as a gift from my lovely brother (thanks Adam!) This actually came in a pack of 3 which I've linked the nearest I could find. 

I absolutely love this EOS lipbalm saw they smell, literally incredible, look awesome and do the job nicely! Bit of an all rounder really! 

CONCEALER: 

Miss Sporty Liquid Concealer // Dark Shade 3 £2.99 

So I will admit, I'm a bit of a concealer virgin.. I don't usually use it but you, will, NOT believe how long it took me to find a concealer that was my skin tone. I was honestly in Superdrug for about half an hour looking for something - I even had the also tanned lady behind the till helping me search up and down. I don't know if this was just because it was a small branch but surely it can't be that much of a task?! Either way, I eventually had to settle with.. Yep. Miss Sporty! 

I haven't used this brand since I first started wearing make up I don't think but, fair play to them! They had a good little concealer in a colour other than ivory with some damn good coverage! I bloody applaud you guys, thank you! Does any other tanned beauties have this issue? Or is it just my poor location? Do let me know!

NAILS:

Barry M Gelly // Coconut £3.99

This is a pretty simple one really, I needed me some white nails so my go to nail varnish is always 

Barry M. I know you see all of these bloggers with their collections of about a million Barry M's but they're just so damn cheap and amazing quality. I tend to stick with the Gelly Nail Paint as I find it's durability and finish is one of the best! (Please note: I can't paint nails for S%!t, sorry!) 

SKIN: 

Simple Micellar Water // £2.99 (sale)

Lastly, it's my Simple cleansing water. This caught my eye as it was on offer for £1.99 so I thought I'd try it out. I remember using their make up wipes a couple of years ago and loving them, but I'm not the greatest fan of wipes now so thought I'd give this a go and wasn't disappointed. It's odd because I feel make up removers/ clensears are really hard to get right but this seems like a very ordinary and affordable purchase. It removed all my make up, making my skin feel clean.. But it's nothing I'd rave about. It's just a nice little cheap cleanser.. "Simple" does what it says on the tin. I liked it, but it's nothing I'd swap my Estée Lauder remover for! 

So that's pretty much it on my mini Superdrug haul.. I have been extremely naughy recently clothes wise.. So keep your eyes peeled for a Primark haul soon! 

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Budget Last Minute Halloween Tutorial.

Okaaaaaaaaay, SO this would officially be my first ever tutorial, ever. Long time coming, I know but we have a lot to cover so I'm gonna dive right into it.

This post is for all those slightly unprepared people who either, haven't yet got their Halloween Costume/Make Up sorted, or have an idea of what they want to look like but are completely clueless on how to achieve it. The tutorial today is for a kind of dead/zombie look which is quite a universal look and can be used with pretty much any fancy dress outfit. You can then pass yourself of as a dead (insert stereotypically generic costume idea here) and you will get credit for not just being a nurse.. or cat..

SO

WHAT I USED:

MUA Lipstick - Red: £1 MUA Lipstick - Nude: £1   Blood: £2.99   Elf  Pallet: $2 so around £1.25   MUA Eye Palett: £4.00
Natural Collection Powder: £1.99    Grimas Face Paint: £5.99

(I used extremely cheap products as you don't want to ruin your favourites!)

I started off with a pale base. I used Grimas White face paint, applying all over with a sponge. I then added some translucent/really really pale powder to give me a bit of a human tone,, while still being extremely pale.

I then used a cheap ass Lipstick, MUA and circled underneath my eyelids, above my cheekbones, each side of my nose and a little on one side of my forehead. You then rub over the lines you've made with your fingers blending it in. Don't use too much as a little goes a loooooong way.

By this point your Make up should be very messy, and you're probably wondering where I'm going with this, but keep at it. After you have done as much blending as you can, it's time to add some purple! I put a medium purple directly under my eyes to give off the whole bruising, dead, rotting kind of  impression blending that with a slightly darker purple. I used the Elf mini pallet for this.

Now you've got the colourful groundwork, it's time to add a lotttt of black. I used a black eye shadow from my MUA pallet and applied with my Real Techniques contoring brush, just because it was a good shape and amazing at blending, but you can use any brush you deem fit for purpose. So I now go over all of the red parts with black, not too thick to start but keep layering it till the blood looks old and really manky. I also go in the inner circles of my eyes quite stongly with the black. (It didn't picture well but I have a lot more in the inner circle but blended it out) Only you can be the judge of how much you need so keep applying until your happy. BLENDING IS KEY.

The look is now starting to take place, but you could still definitely look deader. I next use a pale pale paaaale lipstick on my lips to give them a bit of a realistic look, rather than smearing white facepaint on them. After that on the inner part of both lips, I added a little bit of black eye shadow using a thin brush to make them look quite creepy and dead.

Finally, I thought a bit of  blood was in order, so I dabbed the wound on my head with some blood, and dabbed anywhere else with red showing with a bit of blood. Remember to blend this until your happy. I also added a little on the side of my mouth, as it wouldn't be halloween without the suspicious one sided blood mouth - thing. BUT the one perfect line of blood coming from one side, annoys me every year, so don't be cliche, make it look a liiiiittle messy! :)

So thats pretty much it! This look can be as subtle, or as dead and horrible as you like, it's all about the quantities used, so have fun with it! I hope this helped all of you last minute Halloweeners!

Will you be using this look this year? Do you want to see more tutorials? What are you doing for Halloween? LET ME KNOW.

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My Favourite Autumn/Winter Lipstick.

Anyone who knows me will know, I am a complete sucker for a good matte lipstick. I find that with the shape of my lips and my skin tone that it looks almost a million times better than lipstick with a shine. One of the other reasons being is that they are long wearing and you can eat, drink, carry on with your day without having to constantly re apply. 

I am always on the look out for a new lipstick and my friend, Liv came into work with this gorgeous red lipstick on and didn't have to apply any more for the rest of the evening, that's when I knew I wanted it. When she told me it was Bourjois I was completely shocked, because although I have seen the brand for years I have never tried it, or even heard any reviews. 

I have been a bit of a lipstick snob over the past year or so, doting over my favourite YSL matte lipstick but nevertheless, I gave it a go and absolutely love it. I am constantly wearing this shade as it is absolutely perfect for the Autumn/Winter Seasons. The colour is very strong and pretty. I have heard some people have trouble applying using the little fluffy brush provided (I've forgotten the name, sorry) and I find it works better on some days than others. what I tend to do is line the lips first, then apply using the lip brush provided then use one of my lip brushes to finish it. But, however, it is the sort of lipstick you can just put on and go.

I am so happy with this and all of the other 8 shades are equally beautiful, so these will definitely be my new obsession. I cannot stress how well they stay on (and stain). AND Superdrug are currently doing an offer that brings them to only £5 so go get some, get every one! 

                               Boujior Velvet Rouge Edition - Superdrug £8.99

                                                      Shade 08 Grand Cru

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Real Techniques Review

                  

                    Real Techniques Core Collection - Superdrug £20.99

    Buffing brush, Contour brush,  Pointed foundation brush & Detailer brush.

For. So. LONG, I have been wanting to try the Real Techniques brushes, literally, so long. And  it's always been a case of wanting them, but forgetting about it and buying a different set, and them never having the brushes I need. The other day I took myself out after college and was hunting down a new lipstick but just my luck they didn't have it! As I was just about to leave the shop, my eye was caught on this set.. Real Technique (including a buffing brush AND contour brush - 2 basic brushes I have been longing for forever!) and I thought I had to buy them all! They came in a set of 4, with a cute little carry case and I honestly love them. They are so soft, produce suuuch a natural, flawless look and I love the fact they weren't stingy on the actual brush heads.. they feel and look lush!

I am always on the look out for new brushes to try.. Would you recommend any in particular?

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Summer Favourites

Summer is a really awkward time make up wise, because I'm not usually too fussed with wearing things like foundation, as I'd usually have a tan, so would go all natural - mostly so it's easier to tan. But for the evenings or where I want make a little bit more of an effort and have some coverage, I'd definitely say Chanel Perfection Lumiére. I am extremely lucky with my skin as I rarely get spots and have a reasonably good PH balance, making it not too greasy or too dry. This foundation is one you can just brush on and go. It has reasonable coverage, but isn't one of its best factors. I realise it is quite a pricey foundation but personally, would recommend it to the people with average/good skin as it gives you an airbrushed look and is very hydrating. I will always set it with a bit if powder, but don't find it lasts any more than 8 hours without having to give it a little touch up. 

I use MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder to set my make up, I don't like heavy powders but I like to use a little to stop shine and keep everything in place. I absolutely love this powder as it's light but also let's your skin breathe, it gives it a healthy glow and does everything you'd want it to do and is extremely soft. 

Benefit They're Real! - £19.50Chanel Perfection Luminére - £36.00  YSL Rouge Coture (shade 33) - £25  MAC Mineralize Skinfinish - £22.00   BarryM Gelly Nail Effects (Satsuma) - £3.99

I'm a massive fan of coral this summer as I find myself wearing a whole lot of black and white, it's always really effective to have a statement colour. I have a massive obsession with YSL's lipsticks so just before I went away I chose one of their coral ones from the Rouge Pur Coture range and needless to say, I absolutely love it. It's very bright and very bold which is ideal for the summer and also lasts for ages. The packaging is also gorgeous with YSL - I sometimes use the side of the lid as a mirror.

Also, in coral, I bought a Barry M Gelly Nail Paint which is so fun. It's such a summery colour and is so easy to apply. I prefer their Gelly range as I find it looks glossier and even when painting. It also provides bold colour which is a must have for this shade. 

My last product is my lifesaver! Benefit They're Real! mascara. This, I cannot live without. It is such a lovely mascara. I heard a lot of hype about this at work for a long time, so I thought I'd try it, and I honestly wouldn't go back! I am a complete mascara fiend as I feel I could go without any product other than mascara. I love big, long, thick, dark, statement eyes and this will certainly help you achieve this. I am a little bit of a cheat as I had eyelash extensions put on before I went away to actually not let me rely so much on mascara, but when I want a nice evening eye, I'll always use this to top them up!

These are my absolute summer favourites, what are yours? 

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