May Favourites

Hello my loves! This month has been all about beautiful skin (isn't it always) and to be honest I've been wearing the same makeup look pretty much every day so that's boring. Here are the face products I've been loving this month.

NYX HD Concealer: I've had this concealer forever but I stopped using it a while ago. The other day I decided to use it and I have no clue why I ever stopped. It is quite heavy so I use very little product, but it's the only concealer I've ever found that I can actually use to highlight under my eyes (pale people probs). It has a beautiful satin finish and stays well throughout the day, just make sure you set it.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess: I've never really been a bronzer person but recently I've felt my skin needed a little colour. I sometimes use this in place of blush or with it, but it adds just the right amount of glow to my face. AKA I look like a human being and not a ghost.

MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural: If you guys have been reading the blog for a long time, you'll know I used to worship this stuff. But after I finally ran out, I went back to using the Rimmel Stay Matte because it's so cheap. Well, I found the shade Light in my CCO the other day and snatched it up. Boy let me tell you, I forgot how beautifully natural this makes your skin look, even with a heavy coverage foundation on. I love it.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation in N1 Ivory (uk version): When my grandparents came to visit last month, I asked them to bring me the UK version of L'Oreal's True Match Foundation. After hearing so many people rave about how it's like the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation, I had to try it. It has quickly become one of my favourite foundations. It has a beautiful satiny finish and it medium coverage, so my redness disappears but my freckles do not. I've been loving mixing it with the MUFE Mat Velvet + for an all-day wear and even after a 10-hour shift it still looks flawless. I think I'll pick up the US Version soon and do a comparison.

Nivea Men's Aftershave Balm Sensitive: Okay, if you don't watch NikkieTutorials, you'll think I'm insane. But she's been raving about using this as a face primer. It's $5 so I thought what the heck, let's try it. Honestly this stuff is magic. My foundation looks flawless and stays all day even though it's 90 degrees outside right now, ew. I don't even know how to explain how wonderful this is, you'll just have to try it for your self.

What have you been loving this month?
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MUA vs. Naked

I don't know about you guys, but I love high end makeup. My wallet does not. In fact both times I've purchased a Naked palette, I've cringed. But they're beautiful so I did it. If you do not want to shell out the big bucks, boy do I have good news for you.

The MUA Undressed Palettes are literally the exact same shadows. I kid you not. The British beauty brand stocks these suckers for £4 each. FOUR POUNDS. That's 6 dollars. Obviously there's a lot of drugstore 'dupe' palettes out there but honestly these could be made in the same factory. The shades, especially in the original, are the same and they have almost the same consistency. The only difference I can find is that a few of the MUA shades are slightly softer (aka some fallout) and the matte shades aren't quite as buttery as UD's. In Undress Me Too, the matte black is not the best ever. The shadows in the Naked palettes are also slightly bigger, being 1.3g while MUA's are .8g each. I tried to do some swatches but there's SO many shadows and I did them all on bare skin so they don't look amazing. And the first five shadows in the first picture and a few in the bottom don't really show up because I'm a pale peach hehe, but just know that they ARE pigmented!

If you've been wanting to get your hands on a Naked palette but don't quite have the funds, these are wonderful. In fact, I often travel with the original Undressed palette over my Naked (I think the packaging is sturdier). MUA does ship worldwide, but it's a hefty £8.50 shipping charge, so I'd find yourself a friend in the UK if you're elsewhere in the world!

Have any of you tried the palettes? What did you think?
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Today's Look 06

Today I was feelin a little crazy and I was stalking Sam's instagram so a blue lower lashline it is!

FACE

Nivea Men's Aftershave Balm Sensitive (as a primer hehe)

L'oreal True Match (uk version) in N1 Ivory

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in 125 Fair

Too Faced Velvet Revolver Eyeshadow (Contour)

MAC Golden Nectar Highlight Powder

EYES

MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot

Tarte Tartelette Palette (used Super Mom, Wanderer, Dreamer, and Multitasker)

LORAC Pro Palette (used Sable and Espresso)

Covergirl Eye Enhancer in Indigo Impact

INGLOT Shadow in 428

L'oreal Miss Manga Black Angel Mascara

LIPS

Nothing I'm boring soz

I honestly don't think I've ever received so many compliments on my makeup. What do you think about rocking a slightly bolder look? Let me know!

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Luxury Haircare

So I'm the kind of girl that refuses to spend money on shampoo and conditioner. I mean, I use it up so quickly so why spend $30 a bottle when I can spend $5? Herbal Essences is my life. My grandparents are visiting and for some reason they brought me some travel L'Occitane shampoo and conditioner. Not that I'm complaining but wow okay.

I'm now spoiled. I don't really know how to explain how beautiful these products are. They're the Aromachologie Shampoo and Conditioner and these little 2.5 fl oz bottles retail for $7 each. They contain 5 essential oils, Angelica, Lavender, Geranium, Ylang-Ylang, and Patchouli. The oils mean that they don't feel like your typical creamy shampoo and conditioner, they're instead a bit thinner but I actually find that I need to use less product. They make my hair feel squeaky clean and very "fluffy" although my only complaint is that they take away the volume at the root of my hair the first day. Otherwise, my hair feels beautiful and I reallllly don't want to run out. Because I'm not sure I want to pay for them myself hehe.

What luxury haircare product would you like to try?
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The Summer Foundation Combo

Summer is the prime time of the year for glowing skin. It's also prime time for sweaty skin, so I find it's best to use a matte foundation and then use powders to amp up the glow. I'm also a firm believer in foundation mixing because it gives you infinite formulas! I've recently been mixing the Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet in 12 Beige Rose with Maybelline's Fit Me! Matte + Poreless in Porcelain. The Fit Me! isn't really matte, they're both sort of satiny finished, but combined they make for a flawless, natural looking base that doesn't slip and slide around my face in the heat. They're also perfect together because they yellowy tone of the Fit Me! takes away from the pink tone that the lighter Chanel foundations always have. And wallah! A new foundation and you didn't have to spend any more money!

On the real, I actually have another foundation I just bought to talk to you guys about because I love it, but get mixing and see what you can create!
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A New Home For the Brushes

I don't know if you guys remember, but a few months ago I spray painted the three glass jars I kept my brushes in gold. Because I LOVE gold. Like I really want a chrome gold phone case. Anyway, I did like those but you could definitely tell that it was hand painted and it wasn't quite the right shade of gold and frankly I was getting sick of those damn jars. A looooooong time ago this Nate Berkus desk organizer was on sale at Target and I resisted. Since then, every time I go into Target (frequently) I go and stare at it. Last night I bought it. Honestly, I don't know why it took me so long because it was $15 and it's beautiful and very high quality. Obviously I have a TON of brushes and I kind of just squished them all in there but I kind of like it.

Now I need to resist the rest of the line because it's beautiful
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The Mauvey-Pink Spring Lip Edit

If you've been reading the blog for a while, you'll know there are basically two lip colours that I wear: nude and DARK red. But recently, I've been reaching for lip colours with a little more, well, colour. Specifically that of the pinky mauve variety (and a few that lean a bit more nude sorry about it). So here are my top picks for mauvey lips.

NARS Rikugien Satin Lip Pencil

ColourPop Lumiere Lippie Stix

Revlon Color Stay Just Bitten Kissable Lipstain in Honey

MAC Angel Lipstick

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in East End Snob

Tanya Burr Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Chic

ColourPop Skimpy Lippie Stix

What are your favourite lip products at the moment?

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Liz Earle Skin Care Obsessions

So I'm really really bad at skincare. Like I take my makeup of at night and every now and then I'll use my Lush mask but other than that I'm rubbish. My grandparents always send us Liz Earle stuff over for Christmas and I adore the Hot Cloth Cleanser so I decided I would attempt a skincare routine now that school is finished. Also, my skin is being a little biotch so I need to treat it well.

I've been using the Hot Cloth Cleanser on and off for years and honestly I have no idea why I don't use it frequently because it is lovely. You're supposed to put it on and then 'polish' off with the muslin cloth and warm water but that's such a process for me so I just use my Clarisonic. It leaves my skin baby soft and radiant and also does definitely remove my makeup. I use a separate remover for eyes because Clarisonic on your eyelids? Ouch. I've also been using the Skin Repair Moisturizer for quite some time and it really is wonderful. It's probably better for daytime but I use my Too Faced Hangover Rx, so I use the Liz Earle at night. It's very hydrating and doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy (why it's good for daytime).

So, products I haven't used beforehand but have been sitting on my shelf.... I used the Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer randomly the other day because I was SO hot while studying. Um, this is some kind of miracle because it refreshes my skin and makes my foundation look glowy again. Love. The Instant Boost Skin Tonic is PERFECT to use first thing in the morning to get that extra grime off your face. It's so hot where I live, so I wake up all sticky and disgusting but this gets my poor skin back to normal.

So basically I'm obsessed with Liz Earle at the moment. Are there any products from the line that you can't live without?
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Today's Look 05

So exam week is kicking me in the butt, but I had final crit in Graphic Design today so I needed to look decent. Here's what on my face:

Face

Too Faced Hangover Rx

Laura Mercier Silk Creme (old formula) in Rose Ivory

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless in Porcelain

Kimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Light

Kimmel Stay Matte Powder

Too Faced Velvet Revolver Eyeshadow (contour)

elf Gotta Glow Blush

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Chocolate

elf Clear Mascara

Eyes

MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot

Tartelette Palette

Lorac PRO Palette

MAC Nylon Eyeshadow

Revlon Lash Potion Mascara

Clinique High Impact Mascara

Lips

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Eastend Snob

Two days of testing left and I am so excited for summer! What are you wearing today?

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April Favourites

This month has been all about fresh, glowing skin and a somewhat colorful lip (for me). These are the products I've been loving in April! By the way, please bear with me this week my loves, it's finals time and I am drowning in final projects. Posting may be a bit sparse/sporadic especially next week!

Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation in 110 Porcelain I spotted this in the drugstore and snatched it up because how freaking pale is this?! And in a yellow undertone, the heavens opened and angels were signing. I love the original Fit Me but the lightest colour is so dark I always have to mix it. Anywho, during the summer I'm all about glowy skin, but my poor skin doesn't hold onto my dewy foundations in this nasty humid weather so I have to stick with matte formulas. The thing I love about this is that it looks SO natural. It blends seamlessly (I use my beauty blender) and covers just enough to let my skin look like skin. It's pretty build able but doesn't cover huge breakouts so keep that in mind. There's been a few complaints about longevity, but I set mine with a powder and I like the way it wears throughout the day, it doesn't go cake but instead kind of 'fades' a bit. That sounds terrible but it's a nice thing. I think if you have rather oily skin, you may actually not like this. That was really long and not very informative, but I think I'll give it it's own post coming up this week.

elf Gotta Glow Highlighter I recently found this at Marshall's and I was SO pumped because they never ever have it in my Targets. It's legitimately the perfect highlighter and only $3, I really don't know where you can go wrong. I would say it's like an icy gold colour, so super flattering on all skin tones. LOVE.

Benefit High Beam On days where I want to be SUPER glowy, I'll add some of this baby underneath Gotta Glow and it looks like my cheekbones have been kissed my an angel. Okay, dramatic but really I am so into highlighting at the moment. Sorry.

NYX Bare My Soul Nude Matte Eyeshadow I have basically been wearing Shannon's Beyonce look every single day this month and this grayish-taupe is perfect for the crease colour. For whatever reason it makes my eyes look super super green which is a major plus in my book. The texture is also beautiful, I definitely want to get some more of these shadows.

Colourpop Lumiere Lippie Stix So this is probably technically in the nude category, but as someone who pretty much solely wears super-nudes and dark red lips, this is pretty colourful. It's a gorgeous dusty mauvey pink (good description there) and just looks so beautiful on. It's a perfect Kylie Jenner colour, ugh I cringe as I type this, and really looks good on everyone. Also it's $5 and I adore Colourpop. So buy it.

Rimmel London Exaggerate Lip Liner in East End Snob  A while back everyone was raving about how this was just like Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk liner. I finally picked it up because for me it looks a liiiiittle too pink, but I LOVE it. I don't know what magic is in this pencil but it makes your lips look full and luscious and perfect. Trust me.

Essie Millionails Treatment If you read my blog regularly you'll have heard me complaining about a terrible manicure experience that left my nails really weak. I've had to keep them short while the get stronger and if they grow out even a little bit, they snap off. This has definitely improved them a tiiiiiiny bit, but I know it's going to me a long process so here's to healthy nails next month!

What products have you been loving? Anything I need in my life?
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