September Favourites

I actually cannot believe that tomorrow is October. I know we say, "where did the time go?" all the time, but was it not just New Year's last week? Either way, I'm super excited for colder weather and christmaaaaaas! Too soon? Maybe, but I cannot wait. Anyway, it's September favourites time and I surprisingly have quite a lot of products to talk about!

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I've been all about a fairly minimal makeup recently, especially when it comes to base products. I've mostly just been wearing the Clinique Super City Block (post here), but if I feel like I need to take it up a notch I'll use some of the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation as well. I'm pretty sure I've said this a million times, but this foundation is a real gem. Even though I've been keeping it simple, I've also been loving wearing MAC's Melba Blush. It's a gorgeous neutral rosy shade, and while it looks like nothing special in the pan it looks lovely on the cheeks!

I've been paring back my brow routine as well recently (mostly because I have to wake up at an ungodly hour for class and I'm lazy) and just using the Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil in Medium Brown. I like a much more natural look recently, and this does the trick! Eyeshadow hasn't really been on my mind this month, but when I did want to wear it I've been reaching for my MAC Single Eyeshadows that I haven't used in an age! I have a ton of these cluttering up my drawers again, so I'm thinking about depotting. I wrote a post about the Clinique Pop Lipsticks last week, and although I've only been dabbing a bit of colour on the formula is so nice! I'll pop a link to that post here.

We all know I've been freaking out about the Supers by Glossier this month, so I'll let you read this in-depth post (here) and not waffle on about them. But, I will say that Pure has been my absolute favourite. I actually think I'm putting way too much on and going through it too quickly, so I need to calm down!

What have you guys been loving this month?
x

Five Fab Moisturizers

With the cooler temperatures sneaking up on us (at least I'm praying they will in the south), I've been trying to make sure my skin doesn't get too dry. I go pretty drastically from slightly oily skin to extremely dry skin when the seasons change (probably because we have super extreme temperature differences), so it's always good to be prepared! So, I'm gonna talk about a few of my favourite moisturizers for the transitional period. I will say once it hits real winter in the south I only use one of these, but I'll talk about that in a mo.

The Glossier Priming Moisturizer is a great one for during the day. It kind of sets down, which sounds weird, but it makes a great base for makeup and keeps my skin hydrated! I don't use this a ton in the summer months as my skin gets a bit too dewy, so I'm excited to pull this out again. As a little extra, I've included the Glossier Balm Dot Com as well. We all know I'm obsessed with the stuff, but during the colder months it really really helps heal chapped lips and split cuticles! Another great day moisturizer is the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base. I don't know how this really works, because it's super rich but somehow makes my makeup last a really long time. Very confusing. But it works so well when my skin is a little dry and helps prevent my foundation sticking to dry patches! It is oil-free, but contains Shea butter, so if you have oily skin I would try a sample out first (although most reviews say oily-skinned people are loving it too)!

Another awesome Bobbi Brown one is the Hydrating Gel Cream. This one if great if you find that your skin stays a little oily during the winter as it's a gel texture. It sinks into the skin really quickly but still offers a lot of hydration. And often oily skin happens because your skin is actually dehydrated, so it's important to use moisturizer! The Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream is another one that's pretty lightweight but still packs a punch. It's got Fresh's Super 7 Complex, which is basically 7 'super ingredients' to help with radiance, anti-aging, and hydrating.

My absolute favourite face cream all-year round is the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. It's pretty rich, but still sinks easily while also providing a ton of hydration. I use a little of this in the summer because it goes a long way, but when my skin gets really dry I slap this all over my face and it feels wonderful. It's got Squalane, a natural emollient, which not only helps to hydrate on contact but also pulls moisture from the air throughout the day so your skin stays hydrated. Because of its light texture this one is also great for all skin types! This cream launched in 1970 and is still one of Kiehl's' best sellers, so that must say something, right?

Those are my favourite moisturizers of the moment (although some I've been using for quite a while). What are your favourite moisturizers/skin healers?
x

Glossier: The Supers

Okay, let me start off by saying that I know I get really overdramatic when I really like a new product. But The Supers by Glossier might actually be bottled magic. These launched two weeks ago, and I stayed up until midnight like a wally to order them even though they weren’t being released until morning. Anyway, I jumped on them the second they launched. You can purchase all three as a set for $65, or separately for $28 which considering how expensive serums are nowadays (usually one for $60) is a steal. I obviously just had to get the set (for reviewing purposes, yes?), and have been pretty much in love since first use. The idea behind the Supers is that we’re more than just a “skin type” and that our skincare should reflect that. I don’t know about you guys, but my skin changes moods pretty much daily and I’m always having to use different products. So they’ve released Super Bounce, Super Pure, and Super Glow to combat your different skin needs!

Super Bounce is a concentration of hyaluronic acid and B5 vitamins to help rehydrate tight and thirsty skin. This one is a little thicker than the others in terms of consistency, and more milky in colour. Vitamin B5 restores elasticity in skin, and my beloved hyaluronic acid helps skin retain moisture. For a little science here, hyaluronic acid is like the OG humectant. It’s actually a natural element of skin, as in your body actually produces this stuff. Hyaluronic acid is amazing because one gram can hold up to SIX liters of water! Did I just blow your mind?

Super Glow is a concentration of vitamin C and magnesium to help with dull, tired skin. It’s a light, water-gel consistency and blends effortlessly into the skin. Vitamin C helps to brighten, and magnesium actually energizes the skin cells. Magnesium is another skin hero (Glossier really really did their research here, man). It’s the fourth most prevalent mineral found in cells and the third most abundant in sea water! It helps to restore cellular magnesium levels and is necessary for the enzymes that regulate repair of DNA (hello, anti-wrinkle!). Magnesium can also tackle skin allergies like eczema, because it’s often a sign of a magnesium deficiency. 

Super Pure is a concentration of niacinamide and zinc to help calm redness and breakouts. This one is also a super light-weight watery gel and although the ingredients sound scary, my skin absolutely loves it. Niacinamide soothes redness, and zinc calms blemishes (because it’s antimicrobial and antibacterial aka a super-ingredient pun intended). To me, Niacinamide sounds like some scary super-chemical, but it’s actually a form of vitamin B3 and can actually help strengthen the skin’s outer layers (say what?). I’m now loving this super-ingredient because it helps with skin texture, which is one of my main concerns. 

The first night I got these I used Pure alone, because I was having pretty bad breakouts. When I looked in the mirror a few hours later, I was amazed by how calm my skin looked and my pores even looked smaller (No, this obviously doesn’t actually shrink pores, but it did reduce their appearance). In the morning some of my breakouts had actually cleared up and my scars seemed less angry (Note: I don’t have extreme scarring by any stretch of the imagination, just some red discoloration). The next morning I used a combination of Bounce and Glow and my skin looked so bright and fresh that I ended up only wearing concealer, and I’ve been wearing less and less foundation ever since. I love the watery consistency of these not only because they’re easy to blend in, but also because it means they aren’t chock full of filler ingredients that make serums feel all ‘silky’.

Recently, I’ve been applying Pure to my jaw and nose since I break out along my jaw a lot, Bounce on my forehead and cheeks, and Glow under my eyes and along my cheekbones. This has made my skin look super healthy, and Bounce has somehow reduced the crease in my forehead (again, magic?). They produce such instant results I don’t even know how to describe what’s happening to my skin. I usually wait at least of month of continued use before reviewing a skincare product, but I immediately saw a difference after applying and knew these were something different. I will say that the other night I applied all three all over my face in layers, and I think it was a bit much for my skin as it didn’t look very nice in the morning. I think since these are so concentrated, being smart and using a little moderation is the key.

If you guys would like to get 20% off of your first purchase (which makes these even cheaper, yay!) you can purchase through my link, here. 

Have you guys tried the Supers yet? Which is your favorite? x

Clinique Pop Lipsticks

If these aren't the most photogenic lipsticks you've ever seen, you're lying. I love products that are coloured on the outside, and they look so pretty sitting on my vanity! These are, of course, the Clinique Pop Lipsticks. They are colour and primer combined, and meant to last upwards of eight hours! (We'll see about that). Clinique calls these a "modern-velvet" finish, but as you can see they do have a bit of shine. This definitely sets down a bit as you wear them, to more of a satiny finish. I definitely wouldn't say they last eight hours, especially not the darker colours. The more nude ones, I could wear for four or five hours before it's mostly faded. But, obviously, the darker colours need more attention and I always wear them with a lip liner.

I have seven beautiful colours, so I'll run you through my thoughts! First up in the swatches (down at the bottom, eek up close lips) is Beige Pop, a beautiful pinky nude. This one is pretty opaque, and I'd generally wear it with a darker liner so I don't look like a ghost. Nude Pop is probably my favourite of the bunch, it's a tad darker than Beige and a beautiful everyday colour. My lips but better territory.  Plum Pop is actually a very pinky-mauve so the name is pretty deceiving! This one's also quite pigmented and is one of the longer-wearing colours. Love Pop is pretty similar to Plum, with a little hint of a berry undertone and a bit of shimmer. I usually hate shimmer in my lipsticks, but this is very pretty!

Literally not a clue what possessed me to get Poppy Pop, as I never ever wear bright lips. It's so gorgeous though! It's a bright orange-red that doesn't make my teeth look too yellow, some kind of miracle there. It doesn't show up very well in the search, but it's much brighter and more neon in real life. I obviously had to get a red, Cherry Pop is a beautiful super blue based red. This one isn't as pigmented as I'd like, so I definitely wear a darker liner underneath. Still pretty, but not super dreamy. Cola Pop is Autumn lip perfection. I was a bit worried about this one, but it's actually kind of sheer and looks gorgeous with a darker liner underneath. It's almost a burgundy-red that leans more brown.  I don't really know how to describe it honestly, but it reminds me of the ABH Rum Lipgloss. This one also doesn't really show very well on camera. Much more pretty in person!

I think Clinique made some pretty big claims that they didn't really live up to with these. But, despite that, they are still beautiful lipsticks! Some of the most comfortable in terms of feeling on the lips, and fairly moisturizing as well. They have just come out with matte versions, so I need to get my hands on those ASAP!

Have you guys tried these lippies yet? Let me know your thoughts!
x

Why SPF is So Important

As I'm sure everyone's noticed, I'm fairly obsessed with skincare at the moment. I've been reading a lot about various ingredients and things that are good or bad for your skin. Something I've come across is the real importance of using a separate SPF. I've always used products with SPF in them, but as I research more it seems that these products are way less effective. This is about to get real sciencey up in here.

I went to the skincare goddess, Caroline Hirons for information and came away with a treasure trove. Basically, SPF is an active ingredient and so it can counteract other ingredients. For example, Caroline was talking about how expensive face creams have SPFs as an "added bonus.' But having this in the cream effectively overtakes any other active ingredients. So, you should just use your expensive face cream without an SPF and then apply a separate SPF as well. Most of these products only protect you from UVB and not UVA. IE, you won't burn but you'll still get wrinkles because your collagen is being broken down.

Right, so now we're on the dedicated SPF train, yes? Obviously, you want to protect all of your skin from the sun. But, as your face is in contact with UV Rays for a majority of most people's days it's really important to protect this skin. A lot of people don't like wearing sunscreen on their face because it's generally thought to be greasy. Nowadays there are tons of facial sunscreens on the market that are oil-free and geared towards people who want to wear makeup on top.

I've been using the Clinique Super City Block (SPF 40) recently, and I love it! It comes out tinted, but virtually disappears on the skin, just sort of colour correcting a bit. I've been wearing it alone with just a bit of concealer (because my skin is looking great thanks to the Glossier Supers). Obviously tinted products like this are sort of a turn-off since they aren't generally a match for everyone. This, though, is like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in a tinted sunscreen. I, a pale ghost around NC15, can use it but so can my coworker Bianca who is a NC45! We've yet to try it on Janay who is darker, but I'll update once we have. It also solves the whole white/grey cast issue since it's tinted. This contains antioxidants as well which boosts the SPF by protecting your skin cells from free radicals!

Obviously this isn't going to be something that I see immediate results from, but I feel much better knowing I'm protecting my skin. In the long run, using an SPF is one of the only things that helps keep signs of aging at bay!

Do you guys use a dedicated sunscreen? Let me know what products you love!
x

Beauty Bloggers I Love Following

Image from Kate La Vie

In today's episode of Amelia and Her Busted Laptop, I had to give my baby MacBook to Apple to run tests for two days. So, I have no access to my images, wah. But today I thought I'd talk to you about some of the bloggers I love, so let's get into some lovin'!

01 Paula from Thirteen Thoughts
Paula has some of the most beautiful photography EVER. Her flatlay game is out of this world. She also gives absolutely amazing photography and blogging tips. These have seriously improved my photography, and even though I'm not particularly technically inclined they are super easy to understand.

02 Kate from Kate La Vie
Kate has been one of my favourite blogs for a really, really long time. She's super informative, but also keeps it light and casual so her posts are fun to read. Her house is absolutely gorg, and so is her photography. But, my favourite thing about Kate is how she interacts with her viewers, we chat on snapchat quite a lot which I think is awesome!

03 Holly from Bloomin' Rouge
Again with the gorgeous photography! Are you noticing a theme? I think pictures really are worth a thousand words. Speaking of words, Holly has really great in depth reviews. Also she works at Sephora and posts gratis hauls that make me want to drop everything and go shopping. Dangerous. Holly also has some awesome posts with blogging tips, specifically with tutorials teaching you how to change features on your blog with HTML code! Again, I'm not proficient in reading code, but these are super easy little changes that make a huge difference.

04 Rebecca from From Roses
So Rebecca's imagery is so beautiful I could cry. I could also spend hours scrolling through her Instagram feed and never get bored. She has some really creative posts, and everything she talks about is very interesting. She's also quite into skincare, which I'm sure everyone knows I'm obsessed with learning about right now so it's a win win!

05 Cindy from Cindy Hyue
More pretty photography! Also, those white hexagonal tiles, how creative is she?? I love that Cindy writes as if she's talking to a friend, it makes her posts really fun to read but still really informative. She's also great at coming up with post ideas and has given me several this week, hehe, thanks girl!

06 Kelsey from Beauty By Kelsey
Kelsey is another one of those people that writes like you're just having a conversation with her. She's super knowlegable, but still fun and engaging. Her favourites posts always, always make me want to buy something. Plus, she's a Glossier rep which I think is the bee's knees.

07 Beti from Makeup Sessions
Beti's photographs are so sharp they could probably cut you, and I bloody love it. Another Instagram I could look at for hours. She also always has the inside scoop on new products and writes really wonderful reviews. And the mail-time instagram stories always kill me.

Those are the blogs I've been crushing on! Who are your favourite bloggers at the moment?
x

Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream

Forget anything I or anyone else has ever told you about eye creams. I have found the holy grail. At least for my poor undereyes, that is. Recently I've been having quite oily skin in this summer heat, but my eyes have been SO dry. And no matter how much moisturizer I pile on, I can't seem to keep them hydrated. I've learned that it's another area of your body that has fewer oil glands, and since it's super thin the skin can get dry quite easily.

The Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream has been a life saver. I've used the Hydrating Eye Cream before, and while I still like it, this one is a definite step up. It's a super rich cream full of natural plant oils, peptides, and humectants so it's incredibly moisturizing. I personally find it too rich to use during the day, as it doesn't sink in very fast, but I adore it as a night cream! There's definitely been several reviews out there saying people do like to use it under their makeup, so if you've got super dry skin, this might be an all round perfect product for you.

In the few weeks that I've been using this cream, I've seen an improvement in my eyes. They seem more plumped up and hydrated and I also think my fine lines are decreasing. Maybe that part is all in my head, but I swear my concealer is creasing less! Unfortunately it is bloody expensive (we're talking $70 a jar eep!), but it's working so well I don't know if I'll be able to part with it.

What's your favorite eye cream? Have you tried this beaut from Bobbi?
x

11 Autumn/Winter Lip Colours

Today it'a cloudy and there's a bit of a breeze, so I'm going to continue pretending that it's fall and that it doesn't feel like Hades' personal sauna outside. I don't think there's anything more autumnal than a burgundy lip, so today I'm showing you my favorites, plus some more mauve-y tones that I love!

The Colourpop Ultra Matte lips were all the rage last year, and while I still do like them I just find liquid lipsticks far too drying to wear all day. The Ultra Matte Lip in Avenue is an absolutely gorgeous dark ruby red that I still wear from time to time though. I never fail to get compliments on this even though my lips end up feeling drier than the Sahara. The Ultra Satin Lip in Prim is a darker, more brown toned version of Avenue. On the flip side, this formula is super comfortable to wear, it's just not as long-lasting. I would definitely only wear this dark of a shade in this kind of formula if you can touch-up during the day! Still gorg, though.

We all know that I'm absolutely obsessed with Glossier. I really, really love their Gen G's because they are so easy. The Generation G in Jam is a beautiful purpley-berry color that looks like a perfect popsicle stain. So pretty with dark, bronzy eyes and lots of lashes! I haven't really talked too much about the Colourpop Matte X Lipsticks, but they are a really nice formula. More of a satin-matte than a really dry one, but they wear comfortably and stay put all day! The Pillow Talk and Cami shades are lovely brown-mauve tones that I love this time of year. Speaking of brown-mauve shades, Bobbi Brown's Brownie is the ultimate. It's her Lip Colour formula, and I've found these growing on me more than matte lips recently. The Sephora Lustre-Matte Long Wear Lip Colour in Fig Lustre was one I was absolutely obsessed with last year, and I am so excited to start wearing it again. It's a beautiful pinky-mauve in a dreaaaaamy satin formula that makes your lips look literally perfect.

It wouldn't be a lip post by me without something from MAC (have you seen my collection post?). My faves for autumn are Sin and Whirl. I've talked about both of these a ton, but Sin is the ultimate dark red for me, and Whirl is my perfect mauve. Both are matte finishes, but these ones wear very comfortably. When wearing dark lips you obviously neeeeed lip liner, I can't stress this enough people. Nice, crisp lines will make your lips look way better. I love MAC's Lip Pencils in Nightmoth and Brick. Brick I use normally, and Nightmoth when I want a really intense, vampy dark lip.

What are your favourite lip colours for autumn?
x

Favourite Cosmetics Company Store Finds

If you guys didn't already know, I currently work at a Cosmetics Company Store! This is basically an outlet store for all Estée Lauder brands (i.e. MAC, Estée, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Origins, Smashbox, Tom Ford, etc). My friend Cindy (check her beautiful blog out here) suggested I do a post talking about my favourite things I've bought here, so here I am!

Working here definitely means I get first access to a lot of really awesome shipments, but I've been shopping at the store for much much longer. One of the greatest things to find here are items from special collections. A lot of really, really popular launches (like the Giambattista Valli lipsticks, or the Holiday 2015 highlighters) we will probably never get in but we do get some good things trickle in now and then! We had quite a bit of the Disney Villains collection in at one point and I wish I had gotten more! I picked up most of the eye shadows and I just love the packaging! Another super popular limited edition product was the Azalea Blossom Ombré Blush. I have this in the original formula, but we have had it several times in different packaging as well.

The CCS is also a great place to get deals on permanent range products. Bases are something I pick up here pretty often as they're so much cheaper! Colour ranges are a pain in the butt as we don't get all of the colours in, but if you can find yours it'll be a good deal. I love the MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation, Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick, and the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation. I also pretty much always buy the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealers from here as we generally keep those in stock. Another great thing about the CCS is that when brands change their packaging, we get a lot of the older left over things. I really don't like the new MAC Pigment packaging and much prefer the old jars, so I always snatch them up. We've definitely been getting more of the new packaging in lately (does anyone else think it's really ugly?) so make sure you grab things in the original packaging while you can!

Bobbi Brown Eye Shadows are pretty expensive at the counter, but I love them and you get SO much product. Getting these at such a low price is a really, really, really good deal because the pans are huge! The Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Long-Wear Brow Pencil is amazing, but also bloody expensive. In fact, it's really still expensive in our store if I'm honest. But the price is a bit lower so I feel like I can splurge! Lipsticks are something else that get more and more expensive every time I go to the counter. We got some of the Clinique Pop Lipsticks in recently and I've been buying them up! Again colour range here depends on what we get in, and popular colours sell quickly!

Skincare is one of my favourite things to buy as it is so, so much cheaper. I'm an Origins junkie, and I really love the Original Skin Serum and Night-A-Mins Skin Refining Oil. We also have a TON of Clinique and Estée skincare, as well as some bits from Bobbi Brown. If you've been wanting to delve into more luxury skincare for a while, this is definitely the place to do it! I can't believe I forgot to include the Tom Ford Moodlight Palette in the picture above because it is absolutely gorgeous. We've been getting a lot more TF in lately and obviously it's a super luxe brand, so it's awesome to save some money!

I know not everyone lives near a CCS, so if you're making a drive and looking for a specific product, call before you come in! It's not guaranteed that a product will be in stock and I always feel awful when someone tells me they made a long drive for something. We generally get new products in every month, but as we get overstock products, we may not restock on something you're looking for. If you're lucky enough to live near multiple stores, check both as we all get different products!

Have you guys been to a CCS before? What's your favourite find?
x

Glossier Stretch Concealer

When I first got my Glossier Phase 2 set (post here), I don't think I truly appreciated the beauty that is the Glossier Stretch Concealer. Back then I was still kind of in that 'cover every inch of my skin' phase. Now, however, I'm much more into skincare and perfecting my actual skin and then using makeup to enhance or correct. Aka the Glossier motto, and I am LOVING it.

Glossier describes their concealer offering as, "a new type of concealer with elastic micro waxes that move with your face instead of caking on top of it, and nourishing oils that give a dewy, glowing finish." Let me start off by saying that I think this stuff is the shit. It blends into your skin absolutely beautifully, and is pretty much undetectable. I have the shade Light 10 and although it matches my skin perfectly, it also somehow manages to brighten under my eyes. It covers up my dark circles super easily, and helps diminish any breakouts or hyper pigmentation I have. I will say that this doesn't completely cover breakouts, you can still see them up close. They're just way, way less noticeable and instead of having a cake concealer face your skin looks naturally gorg which is fine by me. 

The concealer contains beeswax and microcrystalline wax, which allows it to move with your skin rather than drying down and looking powdery. This also means that it definitely isn't transfer proof. I set it with a powder, but you definitely want to avoid rubbing your face in someone's shirt. The formula also contains avocado and jojoba oils which are super nourishing and help retain water, and cocoa butter which promotes skin elasticity. 

Okay, now the big BANG POW. Recently, I've been using this baby all over my face as a foundation. Now, using concealer as a foundation is not exactly a novel idea, but I promise you this product will blow your mind. Never, ever has my skin looked so perfected while still looking natural. I know I always sing the praises of tinted moisturizers, etc but those either offer very little coverage or look like makeup. This literal slice of heaven looks like you have beautifully even skin when you roll out of bed in the morning (which I certainly don't). Please, give it a try and tell me I'm not crazy!

What's your favorite Glossier offering? Also, did you guys order any of the Supers? I got all three, oops! Look out for a review of those soon, and if you're itching to get some Glossier I have a 20% off coupon for you here.

x

My Glasses Collection

In case you guys weren't aware, I'm pretty blind. I used to wear contacts but I got sick of dealing with them every morning, so I switched back to glasses. Last year I became fairly obsessed with buying glasses since it's quite boring wearing the same pair every day! My friend Morgan told me I should do a post about them, so here we are!

The first pair I bought out of this bunch are the Baker by Warby Parker (at the very top). These are definitely my favourite and my most worn. Warby's are awesome because they're generally $95 a pair, and a pair get donated to a child in need. I love slightly rounded glasses with a keyhole nose bridge, as you can probably tell! This colour is Striped Sassafrass, which is a gorgeous tortoiseshell! I definitely have a few other Warby pairs on my wishlist, they fit beautifully and are super comfy to wear.

The rest of these glasses are from EyeBuyDirect, which is another awesome company that sells super cheap eyewear! (This isn't sponsored I'm just a glasses freak). Most of the pairs here are from the RFLKT line, which is their 'high-end' line. These cost $70 a pair, and they often do BOGO deals. Other pairs on the site are as low as $10 plus prescription, which is awesome if you want some trendy throwaway ones! You can also get the glasses without prescription if you just want a fashion pair! I'm just going to go down the picture so they're easy to see, so the next pair is the Prism in Translucent. These are a beautiful REALLY clear frame. Most of the other frames I was seeing were slightly frosted and almost yellow-toned, so I love that these are so clear. These are similar in shape to the Baker and also have a lovely keyhole. I don't wear these super often, but they are so trendy!

Right below the Prism are the Theory in Cognac. This pair is quite similar to the Prism, but a little bit rounder. It's a gorgeous light warm brown that I thought I wouldn't like, but I actually love them because they're less harsh! These are pretty tight on my head, but I have a gigantic head so that's not really surprising. I need to go get them fitted so I can wear them more often! Next to those are the Nostalgia in Caramel. This pair is quite different to my others in terms of material as they have a gorgeous metal arm and nose bridge. The nose bridge also has a really delicate engraving that's beautiful! I love how retro these ones look, and they're great at showing off my makeup underneath, hehe! The last frame is the Aurora in Nebular Blue. This pair is an amazing tortoiseshell with a bright blue running through it. In low lighting they look quite dark, but once you're in the sun the blue really shines. The shape are pretty similar to the others, but less round than the Theory. They're super comfy!

Right, those are all of the glasses that I'm wearing currently! I do have some older Armani Exchange and Rayban frames, but those are from when I went through my giant glasses phase and I never wear them any more, lol. Are you guys glassses wearers? Let me know where you get yours from!

Bedside Beauty

I do the majority of my makeup removal in my bathroom or at my vanity/desk, but there are a few essentials I like to keep on my bedside table in case I'm feeling especially lazy. I always always remove my makeup and wash my face at least once, but some nights I'm too tired to use serums and lotions and potions so it's nice to have these at hand!

The Origins Make A Difference Night is a gorgeous night (gel)cream that I've been using for quite a long time. It's a really rich night moisturizer that my skin gets along with no matter what state it's in. Usually I'll use a specific moisturizer to help with my skin, ie if it's extra dry or oily etc, but this one is always great! I'm also absolutely in love with the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream. I'm going to do a more comprehensive skincare routine post soon, but this is the bomb so I keep a mini one next to my bed. Glossier's Balm Dot Com is a staple in my purse, my makeup drawers, and scattered around my house, so it's not really a surprise that I keep one next to my bed. Absolutely adore this stuff.

I'm pretty big into taking care of my nails, so I generally have some nail care products on my night stand as well. I usually have a nail treatment of sorts, and right now I've been using the Essie Fill the Gap, which I've talked about here. It's a nice matte treatment as well so it's not all shiny when you wear it alone! I'm a cuticle oil freak, I'm pretty much always rubbing something into them. I've been using the Butter London Handbag Holiday Oil which is great, but really hard to get ahold of (try Marshall's or TJ Maxx). I also really like Essie's Apricot Oil. Both smell dreaaaaamy. I usually have a hand cream here as well, but I need to pick a new one up! Any recommendations?

What do you keep on your bedside table? Also, as I write this I'm having to wipe and restart my beloved laptop from scratch (tear). I'm pottering away on my old circa 2008 white MacBook which is very funny. Bear with me as far as posting goes, sorry!
x

Under Eye Saviours

Being back in class means I'm getting very, very little sleep. So my undereyes are obviously looking pretty rough. Concealer is absolutely my BFF because I am not a morning person (as much as I wish I were). I'm also talking about a few of my fave eye creams cause you know I'm a skincare freak. 

The Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream has been a favourite of mine for quite some time. This is a super moisturizing, really rich eye cream that actually absorbs fairly quickly. It's awesome because it actually works really well under makeup, which is where I generally have a problem with eye creams. Bobbi describes it as being perfect under concealer and she wasn't kidding! I'm also loving the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Eye Cream which I mostly use at night. It feels amazing when applying and I have actually noticed a difference (shocker) in the texture of my under eyes since using this. I used to have those weird almost scaly looking bumps (ew) around the corner of my eye but now it's all smooth! I know you're eyeing the Glossier Balm Dot Com and thinking, "what the actual hell, Amelia?" But seriously, in the winter when my eyes get super dry this is a godsend. I obviously wouldn't put it really close to your actual eyeball, but the lower part of my under eye thanks me for it. 

As far as actual concealing goes, nothing will ever beat the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer for me. I'm pretty sure it's the only makeup product I've purchased over 5 times and that because it is good shit. It's super full coverage and incredibly lightweight (how do they do it??). The applicator is also a dream. The shade I use is fairly highlighting, but I'm generally trying to look brighter under the eyes anyway, so I love it (probably one of the only concealers that is actually fair enough for me to highlight with). The Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer is a great, slightly less covering alternative to this. It still is super brightening, and has a decent amount of coverage, but I find that it's easier to make look natural. If I'm needing some full coverage, but don't want to look too highlighted, I reach for the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. This one is still super full coverage, and actually works really well to cover blemishes too as its really long wearing. It's a bit heavier than the Naked, which is why I fully converted, but still great for covering dark circles. 

If my eyes are particularly dry and need something creamier I go for the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, which I'm pretty sure I've been using for an eternity. It's extremely full coverage, but also pretty thick so I generally use it in the winter and make sure to set it. Creasing, unfortunately, is still pretty unavoidable. Last but not least is my beloved Glossier Stretch Concealer which I generally use on minimal makeup days. However, I've definitely been reaching for this on a regular basis when doing a full face as well because it's so dreamy. The emollient formula really blends into the skin beautifully, leaving a really natural finish. It also has a surprising amount of coverage and stays put really well. I'm really excited to see how this fares with my dry under-eyes in the winter. 

What are your favourite under-eye products? Anything I need to add?

x 

8 Autumn Bases

My line of thinking regarding Autumn is as follows; the sooner it comes, the better. It may still be 80 degrees at midday, but September means fall. And I am thoroughly excited. This means winter is coming, and winter is by far my favourite season. So, since it's "Autumn" I'm finally pulling out the bases that would usually just sweat off of my face!

The NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint is one that I do use in the Summer, but it performs so so beautifully in the fall. My skin isn't dry enough to make this look patchy, but it also doesn't come off if I'm outside for the majority of the day. It's one of those foundations that just looks like beautiful skin. MUFE's Mat Velvet + was one of the first high-end foundations I ever bought, and I still adore it. Nowadays, I prefer to mix this is with a lighter coverage base but it's still lovely. It's obviously super duper matte and has great coverage. If you have dry skin, definitely mix with a moisturizer or a dewier foundation. If your skin is quite dry, but you'd still like a matte-ish finish with good coverage, you'll love the Maybelline FitMe Matte and Poreless. My favourite thing about this foundation is that the lightest shade, 110, has yellow undertones. This is fairly difficult to find, especially in drugstore foundations, so I was quite excited when I picked this up! The formula itself also didn't disappoint, it's a lovely natural looking matte finish with a medium coverage. It looks flawless, but not like your wearing a face full of makeup.

Another winner from Maybelline is the Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation which seems to only be available online now (wah). This is one of those dry-oil Armani Maestro-esque foundations that was all the rage maybe last year? I fell in love with this one because it gives a lot of coverage without feeling heavy. This is another one that I really like mixing, especially with the Matte and Poreless. It does set down to a powdery finish, being a dry-oil so if you have particularly dry skin (sorry dry-skinned girls) I would recommend mixing. The Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick is something that I generally use as a concealer, but I can get away with it all over my face in the fall if I want something really full coverage. It's beautiful with Bobbi's Vitamin Enriched Face Base underneath. An oldie but goodie is the L'Oreal True Match Foundation. I definitely prefer this in the European bottle, as it has a pump, but that poor thing is a dirty mess so I've put this much prettier bottle in the photo (hehe). This one comes in over 30 (!!!) shades and is a gorgeous natural finish. I prefer to wear this quite sheer, but it is somewhat buildable.

Bobbi Brown is (as I'm sure you know) one of my absolute favourite brands, and I adore her bases. My favourite though is the Skin Foundation. It's the perfect 'my-skin-but-better' foundation and has a gorgeous satiny finish to boot. Dry-skinned ladies listen up! This doesn't cling to dry patches on my face at all, it's a bloody miracle. It's definitely not a full coverage, but it evens out my skin beautifully and I can spot conceal on top. Last but not least is the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet, this is one that I love year round but is particularly nice when the weather starts to cool down. It's another lightweight medium coverage (trends?) that looks like skin with a satiny finish. The 'velvet' description is definitely accurate here.

That's it (well, there are a ton) for my favourite Autumn bases! What products do you switch to in the cooler months?
x

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel

EDIT 02: Okay, so it totally wasn't this, started using again last week and have had no trouble! I guess my skin just randomly had a meltdown! Haven't had any trouble this time around, but I shall let you know if anything occurs!

EDIT: I unfortunately think this has been breaking me out! I stopped using it and stopped getting new breakouts, and at the time this was the only new addition to my routine. Such a shame as the first few weeks my skin looked gorgeous! Will maybe try again in a few months and make sure it was this (fingers crossed my skin won't freak out again)

I finally, FINALLY got my hands on the raved about Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel and it does not disappoint! I will say before I get started that I'm not quite sure how to explain this magic, because it has to be magic, but I will try my best.

This is one of those products that people say works the first time you use it, I was skeptical. But my first night using it my skin was brighter and so, so soft. It's a non-foaming gel to oil cleanser that gives a really deep cleanse without feeling like it's stripping your skin (at all). It's also marketed to work as a makeup remover, but I'm a freak that cleanses like three times so I haven't tested that out yet. The texture is sort of like a light balm, and I loooove my balm cleansers. The great thing about this one though is that it isn't too heavy, and the oil doesn't dry out your skin. As far as the brightening aspect you'll have to try it to believe me. I really don't know it does it (pumpkin enzymes apparently), but my skin is no longer dull and looks brand new (baby's butt new, people)!

This is for all skin types, but if you have quite a dry and dull complexion you will definitely love it! Especially with the fall and winter months finally coming. The packaging is also gorg (minimalism is my fave) and super functional. It's got one of those awesome pumps that actually lets you choose how much you pump out. I do wish it had a little clear window so that you knew when it's about to run out. It's also kind of a pain in the ass to get a hold of in the US. I ordered it from BeautyBay because they had a coupon, but of course it took an age to get here. But, it definitely was worth the wait!

I'm thinking this is going to be a permanant addition to my skincare routine, have you guys tried it yet?
x