Origins GinZing Energy-boosting moisturizer

This is like the greatest smelling moisturiser I've ever smelt. I think I love the orange and citrus scents and thats probably why I love this one so much.

Not only does this smell amazing but it has cured my dry skin. I was always one of those people that loves doing make up but was SUPER lazy when it comes to skin care. This is probably partially the reason why my skin was so dry, because I am a confessed user of makeup wipes (I know, they're bad for you). I probably use makeup wipes more than my Emma Hardie cleanser just because it takes a lot of effort. This moisturiser sinks into the skin really quickly, is really hydrating and you can feel it from the moment it touches the skin.

The smell is just a bonus if you ask me.

This moisturiser is on the more expensive side at £24 per 50ml, but it totally worth it.

Click here to get it CLICK

Let me know what your favourite moisturiser is below

:)

Ghost perfume

This is currently my favourite day scent. I used to use Giorgio Armani, Si, which I love more than Ghost but it's more of an occasional and special scent for me. Ghost on the other hand is a lighter scent that I like to use to spritz myself up after a day at work. It's not a floral scent and I think it's a little musky but not overwhelming.

Also, look how cool the bottle is.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

When I found these lipsticks on feelunique, I thought I'd hit the jackpot. I'd been looking for nude colours with a matte texture for a long time.

Although the texture and longevity of these lipsticks are AMAZING, I don't really like the taste or smell. I don't know what you would compare it to but it's not nice. However, this does not stop me from using it. The smell and taste goes once it dries.

Even though this lipstick is matte, it isn't drying on the lips. Don't get me wrong, it's not moisturising either, but it doesn't destroy your lips.

My favourite colour is (insert brown colour here). But I've also tried the bright colours which, in my option is just as good as the nude colours.

One of the most appealing things about this is that it's really cheap at just £5.50 per lipstick on feelunique.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (Left to Right: Copenhagen, Prague, Monte Carlo, London)

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (Left to Right: Copenhagen, Prague, Monte Carlo, London)

Birthday Makeup

Today is my birthday and I am 20 years old!

But something that I feel I have spent a lot of time thinking about is the type of make up I wanted to wear. I'm not normally one to put a bunch of planning into my make up. I usually have a group of eyeshadows which I like to wear, and i just throw on whatever i'm feeling like wearing on that day.

I thought I would just add a couple of pictures in here and write what I've got on.

Nars sheer glow mant blanc

Nars creamy concealer chantilly

Rimmel stay matte powder transparent

Mac charcoal eyeshadow on my brows

Nars basic 2 pallette 1st shade as a base, 3rd shade through the crease layered with 4th and 6th shades and then the 4th shade underneath the eyes

L'oreal paris super liner in black

Lancome hypnose mascara

Charlotte tilbury sculpt and perfect contour (no highlight)

Rosy flush tanya burr blush

Mac lipliner spice

Charlotte tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick in bitch perfect

I started with benefits porefessional to help with the longevity of this look

*I actually wrote this on my birthday a week ago 12th April*

Waxing VS Threading

I used to have caterpillars for eyebrows. I had an immense monobrow and two fat straight lines just above my eyes. I didn't really pluck them until I was about 14 (I know I was late to the party), but when I started plucking them they still didn't look much better. I just found I was very lazy, and I would leave them wayyyy too long. I started getting them waxed because thats what my mum would do, and then when I started getting into beauty, I started getting them threaded.

Waxing is definitely quicker when you get them done, and I would say less painful. But I found that because it was tearing at my skin when the little strip of material was ripped off, my skin went absolutely haywire. I would break out all around my brows, and although they looked thinner, they were still very bushy.

Threading, in my opinion, is a lot nicer than waxing. This is because, although it takes a little longer, it makes my brows more defined, manageable and longer lasting. Threading also reacts less to my skin and, although I still break out, it's nowhere near as much as waxing.

Overall, I have been converted into the life of threading because of the way my brows look for the 6-8 week period afterwards.

Does anyone else hate the small talk that the beautician tries to have with you whilst she is like 3 inches away from your face? I find it incredibly awkward.

:)

THE BEST SCENT I HAVE EVER SMELT

So, at christmas I was wandering around Milton Keynes shopping centre, gathering presents for everyone and slowly ticking names off of my list. I don't normally shop in BHS, but it's surprising the little gems that you can find when you're least expecting it. I am a sucker for a candle, and this candle looked absolutely amazing, it was just beautiful. It's scent is described as Mandarin and Clove, which is a scent i've never really put together.

There is one downside to this candle. I believe it has been discontinued. I have looked online everywhere for this candle and i can't find it anywhere. If you know where to find this candle please let me know.

:)

Lipstick to last a lifetime

I know, I know, I know. I have failed miserably at this blog. However in the time I have been away from here, I have realised that this is something that I love. It's one of the ways I can relax and have a creative outlet without the pressure of believing a lot of people will see this. Most of my friends aren't into make up and blogging like I am. My sister had a vegan blog when she did the 30 day vegan challenge, but other than her influence to start my blog, I haven't had any other encouragement other than my own will. Hopefully this is the last hiatus I will take from this little corner of the internet. I might not have all the greatest equipment but I have got a hobby.

When I say 'to last a lifetime' I don't mean the colours that will stay on for hours all day, I mean the type of lip colours which will be a staple in my everyday routine and will stay there for a lonnnggg time. I have about 3 lip sticks which I have been using for about a year now, and I have been using consistently.

First up is the Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick in Bitch Perfect, not only is the name like super cool, but the colour is a lush subtle corally nude colour. I've never found a colour to match this (if you know of one please let me know). It isn't the most long lasting lipstick ever, it comes off when you cook, but with a lipstick which is so moisturising I don't mind putting it on every few hours (haha).

Next lipstick that I adore is the Ciate Olivia Palermo lipstick in cashmere. I wear this once I've put on some fake tan on and feel a little more summery, but it's a really lovely brown nude colour. It just adds something different to your look.

Finally is mac's lipstick in twig. I got this because my cousin bought one for her and then returned to the mac store the same day because she knew I would love it. I love this colour because it's bolder than your average nude but it's really easy to put on. It's a very kylie-esq colour, and that is exactly what my cousin asked for when she went into the store. 

The Samples

I know i'm late to the party for most of these, but I'm always reluctant to buy things when they are being hyped up because it's more difficult to realise whether I genuinely like the product, or like it because everyone is telling me it's great.

Lets start with Benefits Porefessional. I use this on the areas where my pores are at their worst. It makes a smoother base without letting my make up slip away. I also love the packaging, it's cute. I never really used to wear a primer, when I first really got into makeup I used a cheaper one from Rimmel I think which would make the base look great for about 2 hours and then disappear, I think this kind of started a reluctance to use any other types. This has also lasted me so long even though it's a really small pot, I mean like weeks. Not only have I fallen in love with this, the area I live don't really have anywhere close by to buy higher branded makeup, but our boots has finally started to stock it, so my bank is going to start hating me.

The second Benefit product is the they're real mascara, I really like this for coverage on the lashes and it adds a lot of volume, but I do not love the heaviness. I have really long lashes so keeping them up and curled is quite difficult, and this just seems to weigh them down. I wanted to like this but it just doesn't work well with me.

Finally is the Lights Camera Lashes mascara from Tarte. This was another one that I always wanted to try but always forgot to buy. To be completely honest, I do prefer the Benefit mascara because this one was too much for me, I found it quite difficult to get my eyelashes to look how I wanted them too, I'm not sure why but I just did not get along with this. If you have shorter and thinner eyelashes I think this would work perfectly, giving length and volume, however it is quite thick.

REVIEW: Soap and Glory Brow Archery

I have been searching for a simpler way to do my eyebrows, something more travel-friendly. I usually just use some chocolate eyeshadow and that does the trick, however it's a pain to have to keep washing my brushes. I had heard mixed opinions on this, some saying it was fairly difficult to work with, and others singing it's praises. I can say that I have loved it for everyday use, it's not as dark as the eyeshadow that I would usually use for a stronger brow, but this makes the look softer. The felt tip type end is meant to be used as a tint, however this is the bit that looks like it's doing nothing when it's actually just filling out some of the more sparse areas. The other end is more like a crayon and works to strengthen the arch itself. I find that it stays all day and is difficult to go wrong with this. It's a lot more convenient. For £10 it's not too bad, but I would say for a budget this probably isn't the best there is. For special occasions I tend to stick with the eyeshadow just because it's stronger and makes my brows more defined.

Buy it HERE 

What do you use to fill in your brows?

Zoeva Rose Gold Brushes

Sorry they're not clean, I was too lazy to wash them this time around

I never realised how much of a difference I would feel when I used makeup brushes instead of my fingers. It's smoother, softer, and probably a lot healthier for the skin (imagine the bacteria on your hands, ew). I'm sure you've read/seen many people rave about these brushes and I'm jumping on that train. Not only do they look beautiful but they apply your makeup so smoothly and like silk. I don't use all of them for their intended purposes but who cares...

My favourite out of the lot by far is the powder brush which I actually use as a bronzer brush but it does the job amazingly, making me look bronzed and spreads it evenly so I don't look orange and strange. It probably does just as good a job with powder but I prefer to use it with bronzer because until recently I didn't really use powder that much.

Whats your favourite makeup application method?

Find them HERE

Work Those Lashes

Eyelashes are my most annoying makeup problems. I struggle to find a way to keep my eyelashes curved all day and a mascara that I have fallen in love with. I have found a way to encourage the curve to open up my eyes throughout the majority of the day so here are 3 tips to keeping up those eyelashes;

1. Use eyelash curlers more than once. I like to use them first, do all of my make up, curl them again and then a 3rd time. This will make them look really weird but after 5 minutes they just look open and wide eyed. I've found this technique to be really effective and I have no problem with my eyelashes staying open. I've also heard that if you heat up the eyelash curlers slightly to begin with, it's meant to work like curling tongs and hold them open, but when you wake up at about 7 in the morning, I can't ever be bothered to wait for them to heat up.

2. Use a lightweight mascara or a waterproof mascara to lock it in and not weigh it down. On an everyday basis, I like to use Rimmel Scandaleyes show off mascara because it's lightweight and it's easy to just coat your lashes once and they have a natural finish alongside separating the eyelashes as well as darkening them. When I'm going out, I like to use Maybelline the Falsies waterproof mascara because it's just a little more heavy duty and makes the lashes look extra special.

3. When curling your lashes, tilt the curlers towards the lid of the eye. I find that this just adds a little lift and curl, it also contributes to making the lashes curved for longer.

A New Look Accessory

I have been searching for the perfect accessories for my summer ball that I have in a few weeks time and managed to find them all on the New Look website. Not only are they super cool, but they are just beautiful. The clutch bag is perfect, it has just enough room in it to carry around a lipstick, concealer and other makeup accessories, alongside any money and a phone. It also has a little gold chain that means if you get bored of carrying it, you can have it as a shoulder bag. Then there are these earrings, they match the necklace perfectly. I cannot wait to wear these.

Click here to buy them:
Necklace
Earrings
Clutch Bag

That Smooth Base Though

Also wearing maybelline the falsies mascara, Rimmel eyebrow pencil, Mac lipstick in Patisserie and bourjois blush in Golden Rose.

I have finally settled on a few base make up items that I think are ones I have trust in and have learned how to use them to suit my skin. I am super fussy with foundation cause I like the base that will stay put without budging and still look how it did in the first place covering up the redness I get on my cheeks and chin, rare but there are a few foundations out there that do the best that I think a foundation can do.

To start with I prep my skin with the Aveeno Skin Relief moisturiser (Review: HERE), and then just a tiny amount of Maybelline New York baby skin instant pore eraser primer because I think if you use too much it does actually make the foundation slip around, so a minute amount just to reduce any imperfections on the surface does the trick. Then I dot my Nars Sheer Glow in Mont Blanc (pale I know) onto my face and blend it in with the Zoeva silk finish brush, this brush makes foundation so quick to blend and leaves it looking even.

I really like to use the Mac Studio Fix Fluid concealer in NC15, which admittedly I think I would prefer NW15 because I think it would brighten and illuminate under the eyes but the NC15 does the job well enough, giving great coverage and stays put almost all day, it might need touching up once in a whole day but it is good. I just use the same Zoeva silk finish brush for ease of cleaning everything and it blends in well.

I sometimes dip into using the Bourjois healthy mix powder (Review: HERE) and just a Collection bronze glow mosaic powder in Radiant just to put a subtle warmth into my pale complexion.

All of these products can be found online but only some in store. 

Whats your favourite foundation?

Recently Under The Radar

I make a lot of purchases that seem to glide under the radar and so I thought it would be good to put together things that I have bought over the past few months, but don't seem to have made it onto foundmygrace.

   First up, it was my birthday over a month ago, and as it was my 18th my cousins sort of spent a lot on my presents. They got me three things from mac, studio fix foundation, studio fix concealer and mac lipstick in Patisserie. I have absolutely fallen in love with them. I had been meaning to get them for a while, and had never got round to it. The concealer stays put and does not budge, it's not too cakey and I feel that it illuminates the skin. The foundation is full coverage, and makes the skin look naturally flawless even if it is full coverage. Finally the mac lipstick is a perfect everyday colour. It stays put for a good number of hours, it's shade is a my lips but better product, and it's actually fairly moisturising what more could you want for an everyday lipstick shade. These purchases came with a free sample of the mac prep and prime primer, which I think is a good primer but there's nothing special about it. It provides a good base for it but I feel that it just smoothes out the skin and thats it.

   I also may have had a little shopping spree on feel unique and treated myself to a few items including;

1. Ren Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk (REVIEWED HERE)

2. Rimmel London Kate Moss Lipstick in 05

3. Nude Magique l'oreal paris Anti redness CC Cream

Also, because I spent enough, I got 2 free samples so I chose to try the Dr Branat self adjusting BB Cream and La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, I haven't got round to testing the BB cream but The Effaclar Duo I am actually planning on repurchasing, it has helped with redness, moisture and reduces a terrible breakout that had started to show. The Kate moss lipstick is as good as drugstore lipsticks get, it's a nice pink colour. I don't tend to wear pinky colours often but this one is subtle but kind of bright and a little sheer. Thirdly The CC Cream is not something I would ever wear, EVER. It's a little dark, I can never find a shade light enough for my skin. The coverage wasn't very equal and it was just a lot of work, I pretty much threw out the whole tube.

   I am also a sucker for the 3 for 2 deals that go on in boots and superdrug so the last time I popped in I came out with 3 things. Firstly the maybelline baby skin pore eraser is probably the best drugstore primer that I have ever tried. It really does reduce pores, so I actually only use this on the places where my pores show through the most, especially around my nose and on the apples of my cheeks. I also bought 3 Revlon colorstay shadow links, Oyster 020, Petal 070 and cocoa 290 I don't think much of these if I'm honest. They are just eye shadows that aren't the greatest eyeshadows that I've ever used, but they certainly aren't bad. Finally I bought the Revlon Colorburst Matte balm in 240, Striking Spectaculaire, this is an amazing everyday reddish orange colour. It's not too bold, not drying, and the colour holds most of the day.
   I bought some zoeva brushes that, once thoroughly inspected will have a review.
   Finally, the final 3 purchases I got was the Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic Eye Definer which is my favourite waterproof eyeliner. It lasts and lines the eyes perfectly, the other thing is that you don't need to use a sharpener, it twists up which is always a bonus in my book. Alongside this I bought 2 other lipsticks from topshop, Lips in Ooh La La which is a really nice sheer coral lipstick, easy to just glide on on-the-go lipstick, and also the Topshop Lip bullet in Wine Gum which is a purple shade that I haven't loved so much because it gets everywhere and I've had no where to wear it too.

What's your most recent favourite purchase? 

Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder

This is my new favourite powder. I really only use powder to set the foundation onto my skin, and so a cheaper one is usually my choice (Rimmel stay matte powder). I absolutely love the warming effect this brings to the paler skinned, especially coming into spring. I find that I can look a little washed out if I'm not careful, and as some foundations oxidise I think it turns a little orange, but this just brings a tiny bit of colour to the porcelain touch without an orange glow. This is in the lightest shade because I don't use it to cover up anything, but just lighting dusting over the skin is just glowing and radiant.