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*

Bronzing for the paler

I've said numerous times on here; I am white. I'm like casper the friendly ghost, you can't get much paler. However i find that if i don't use some type of countouring bronzey thing, then i look dead. Most bronzers are just too orange toned and look unnatural. I like this bronzer because it's a subtle colour and brings just a little oomph to the cheekbones. I use shade 01light matte and so 100% suggest this bronzer, also the name is just delicious, honey bronze bronzing powder (what is it with the foody bronzers i mean this and bourjois chocolate bronzer mmmm).

It's also a really beautiful shell casing which makes it great for travel because it's super smooth and little and there's no extra bulkyness. I also love the idea of the bee hive shapes in the middle with tbe 'honey idea'

Definitely a favourite in my opinion. 

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.

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?

Soap and Glory Super Cat Liner

This is a new favourite, that I never thought I would try.
I know many bloggers have said that the soap and glory make up range is doing everything it says it would and should, but I never thought I would get away from the l'oreal superfine liner if I'm honest. I have used that liner ever since I was in year 10 (a few years ago now) but I have to say, this liner might just be trumping it right now.

This liquid eyeliner has not got the finest point ever, but it certainly makes it easier to apply. I'm not into thick liner, but I am into winged liner right now, and this just makes the wings so much simpler and also the colour is jet black. I always found that the superfine liner didn't come out as black as I would like when on top of eyeshadow, you really have to work it into the eyelid, and then would run out super quickly. I have only just picked this up for £6 in boots but I'm hoping this will have a longer life than the l'oreal liner.

One negative thing is that, if it is put straight onto the eyelid, it tends to smudge a little bit, and leave some residue on the top of the lid. This works brilliantly on top of eyeshadow though.

I will have to report back in 2 months time and I'll let you know how long it lasted. But so far it has been the best eyeliner I have.

Staple Lipsticks

I think lip sticks are very particular and should only be worn if you feel comfortable in them, and for me every lipstick is different, whether it be the colour, texture or longevity of the lipstick. In this post I've tried to pull together 4 categories of lipsticks that are different budget styles.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate lipstick in 107

Lets jump right in at the deep end with a bold statement lip colour. This is my favourite lip colour and have used this for a couple of years now, ever since I was becoming more adventurous with my make up. This is the Rimmel London Kate Moss Collection matte lipstick in 107. This is a deep velvety red that dries onto the lips. I do believe that it dries the lips to the point where you will have to carry a lip balm type of product but it's worth it for the seductive colour and texture.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish lip liner in Black Tulip

Following on from the Rimmel London lipstick, this lip liner just holds the colour for longer and  more defined. I only put the lip liner on if I am going out as it's not completely necessary, just makes it more glamorous.

I like to put these two together because they're a fairly similar match, not 100% but close enough that it makes the lipstick glamorous and amazing for nights out and about.

This picture makes the colour look redder than it really is

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick in 016 Heart Breaker

This is a much pinker, with a hint of red, colour and more sheer. It isn't moisturising, but it's not drying. The only downfall to this girly pink lipstick is the longevity of it. I wouldn't suggesting have a meal out because you will be left with a lip liner effect and no colour on the lips at all. I have to say this picture makes the lipstick look way more bright red than it actually is. On the other hand, this lipstick does seem to have blue undertones which makes the teeth look even whiter.

Topshop lipstick in Ooh La La 

This is a newer lipstick for me, something new I have ventured into. I usually like to stick with something more buttery and neutral, or go all out bold and wear either Mac Rebel or the kate moss lipstick I mentioned in the first paragraph. However for spring I thought I would try something lighter, and this immediately sprung out at me. I have to admit that I thought it would be more pink, but as you can see it's more orangey/coral and I have fallen in love. It's not too pigmented so it doesn't look like you've had to apply it a thousand times because once the colour settles onto the lips, it looks wonderful.

The last thing I think every girl should need to use at some time in her life is a lip balm. This is the Burt's Bee's lip balm, and it is fab. I never used to like vaseline because I thought it felt greasy and I'm just not a fan, however this lip balm just feels super moisturising and isn't sticky afterwards. The other thing I like is that you don't have to use your fingers to apply it. I'm not one for using fingers to apply any make up because all I can think about is all the dirt that has to be left on there, whether you've just washed them or not.

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.

Everyday Make Up

Obviously, you should start at the beginning, which would be the whole skin care routine, but I feel thats a completely different post entirely.

As you can see some have already been used *guilty*

BASE:

For my base I have been absolutely loving The L'oreal Infallible foundation. I has become one of my most reliant foundations. It's matte but not dehydrating on the skin. I would suggest putting moisturiser on as not to take any chances. It hides blemishes, evens out skin tone and lasts most of the day, I would say reapply after a day at work or school. Exactly what I look for in my foundations. Then I use the Lasting Perfection Concealer to hide those extra red areas and some traumatising blemishes. Finally setting the base with the Bourjois Healthy Balance powder. This was a spontaneous purchase to switch up from the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, and this sets it nicely, adding a bit of extra warmth into my face, being so pale is a chore.

EYES:
I then move onto the eyes just because thats the routine I'm in right now. I really like the NYC HD color quattro in 815 Best of Broadway, which I already have a review on HERE but I like to just use the second to lightest shade all over the lid just so it's not bare, but isn't heavy. I then like to use the L'oreal Colour Riche LeSmokey eyeliner in Brown Fusion because it's super blendable and I like the top lid close to the lash line, and then with a eye shader brush I just blend it a little and blend into the outer corners for more definition. L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Brow Artiste in Dark Brunette is up next just to brush through the brows and define them a little more, as you can tell I don't go in too strong. Finally finishing up the eyes with eyelash curlers and then Maybelline the falsies mascara which I am in love with right now.

CHEEKS:
Next is a slight contouring session using the Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light 884. I'm not a massive contour-er type of girl as most contouring things look a little orange, but this is totally fine as long as I don't pack on the product. Then I just dust on my blusher which is currently the Rimmel London Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush in 050 Live Pink, which looks extremely bright in the packaging but once on the cheeks just adds a healthy glow.

LIPS:
This is the final step that I do and is the quickest and easiest if you ask me. I like to switch up my lip colours a lot, but the one I find easiest to maintain is the Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle 001 which is a pinkish brownish type colour and just gives a little oomph to the lips.

This seems like a really long process when explained by typing, but it really only takes me half an hour or less in the morning depending on how tired I am. I think all of the products I use can be found in either Boots or Superdrug and aren't too expensive (which is why I use them as everyday make up).

MUA Undressed Palette

I find that for any makeup palette, you find the ones that you love fairly quickly, and the others just have to take a back seat- not every colour will be loved. In this palette, the only colours that I know I'm not brave enough to try due to my love of neutral and pink toned colours is the blue one, on the far bottom right, and also the orange shimmery one on the bottom left. 

I walked into superdrug looking for one specific item, and walked out with a hand full of products. Including this palette from MUA. The palette is at an amazing price of £4, which is unbelievably low- I think it is anyway. I wasn't expecting anything great, just a product that would be 1. A great budget buy, and 2. a nice wash of colour for when I go to school and do not need a full face on, but this has exceeded expectation. I now use this daily and will probably love it for a long time. 

These are the 4 colours that really attracted me to the palette, but just so that you can see the pigment of the colours I've swatched 4 different colours for you too see.

(Buy it HERE)

On the Go Cheek Blush

Rimmel London STAY BLUSHED liquid cheek tint. 

This is a perfect product on a lazy morning. You know those mornings where you wake up and just cannot be bothered, but have things to do, well this is the product.
There isn't much to say about this product, except it's ideal to travel with, and simple to use whilst 'on the go'. It doesn't need a brush, just dab and blend with the fingertips. I have the shade Sunkissed cherry, which is a light redish-orange, there are also another pink shade called 'Pop of Pink'. It gives a healthy glow to the cheeks giving you a natural look, I have to say, it's harder to put it into the exact place on the apple of the cheeks in the precise place you need it to go, however, I don't think precision is necessary with this product. I also think this would be good for a school make up look, due to the natural glow.

This picture really doesn't do it justice.

buy it here: STAY BLUSHED

Make up remover intervention

Ok, intervention is a little strong. This isn't something that I would normally think too much into but they have made my skin feel even softer.

I use a misceller water to remove my makeup and sometimes a cleansing milk to ensure all of it is off. I would just pop down to say superdrug or boots, and buy  myself some cotton pads *every girl needs them* but after running out of the las superdrug batch, i pleaded for my mum to buy them for me as she was already out *she's not into makeup ans skin care really* and she came home with 2 packs of morrisons ones *i hid them straight away from my sister*. I generally don't pay much attention into the cotton pads, but these ones are mega soft. I can regularly find my skin a little rough after using the misceller water *rough isn't quite what I mean, it's just not smoothe* but these have been a huge help and don't tend to scratch at the surface of the skin.

Again, they are morrisons own, so they're bound to be a reasonable price, but I don't know how much because my mother bought them. 

I highly recommend this product.

Broadway Eye shadow

I have fallen in love with this eyeshadow quad since I discovered this product on lilypebbles blog, and I am all for an everyday eyeshadow that is cheap and easy to use. Now I know she has brown eyes and I have blue eyes, but I couldn't resist. This is the HD color quattro eye shadow in 815 Best of Broadway.

It's got 4 colours, the first I don't tend to use as it's just a really light colour than can be used to highlight, and on early mornings before school, I just don't have the energy to think too much into my make up. The 2nd colour is a much more neutral colour, that is easily spread across the whole eyelid and works well with the next colour whilst also blending easily. The final colour is better to use if you're going to use this as an evening look, it's not completely black but more of a dark brown. This really makes the look very smokey and darkens up the eye, could even be used as a darker liner if you have a brush thin enough.

This has become my favourite everyday eyeshadow, but I really don't use this when doing more glammed make up *I say glammed in very loose terms with me*.

At a bonus, this was only £2.99 at superdrug, which is the biggest bargain I have ever seen.

Silky Barry M Polish

I had really cold hands and thats why they're a little red

A recent trip to super drug led to a spontaneous purchase of the two newer nail varnish collections that Barry M have just bought out. One of the ones I bought is from the Silk range *yes, I couldn't resist the little bow on the top of the bottle* I picked the colour Truffle, number 403, which is a goldish silver that has a hint of pink *I think, maybe it's just me* but it's matte on the nail, which I have been reluctant to try as I didn't think it would look like this on the nail however whether you would consider it as 'silky' I don't think is actually true. The next one I picked *the 2 for £6 deal caught me out* was the glitter Treasure Chest in 404 which is a perfect match to put onto the 'accent nail' or on every nail depending on what look you prefer. The glitter has shards of gold and some pink glitter which as you can tell, goes perfectly with the goldy/pinkish/silver silk nail polish. The only problem with this nail polish is that it has made me want to buy even more, and push my nail polish collection to the limit. I might have to get rid of some soon *avoiding this as I don't like to make decisions*.

Review: Maybelline New York Big Eyes Mascara

I find that having long eyelashes can be a bit of a chore, with mascara being too heavy, after an hour the curl in them droops and they don't have the same brightness. This isn't my favourite mascara as I find that the part for the top lashes don't separate the lashes but tend to clump them together, and then they look uneven. However the bottom lash mascara separates and coats them evenly, maybe this is due to the smaller end but, even though it is made for the bottom lashes I tend to use it to put a second coat on the top lashes, it just keeps the eyelashes apart and keeps the mascara on them.

Lent

I know lent has started already, and lots of people have already started to give things up, but about 3 days after pancake day, I finally decided exactly what I needed to do.

I have a stupid amount of makeup that 1. I don't use and 2. is so old that I probably don't even remember using it. So instead of giving up some type of food, or chocolate, or some type of thing that I usually break within the first week, I told myself that for the 5 weeks of lent I cannot and will not buy any makeup other than moisturiser if necessary. This means that the makeup that has been placed in a drawer somewhere will be found again, and will either be thrown away or probably become part of my everyday routine. I like to think this could be a form of 'spring cleaning' which will save me pennies and discover old loves. 

Buttery lips

From left to right: Pink Truffle, Strawberry Shortcake, Candy Apple, Red Velvet & Tutti Fruitti

The Revlon lip butters are my current favourite everyday lip colour to wear, especially on school days where I find a bolder colour is definitely too much make up, and too much maintenance throughout the day. They have a moisturising texture to them and are clearly not matte at all, however, they nourish your lips and protect them from the lip biting stress of everyday life.

My personal favourite is Pink Truffle. It has a deep rosey colour that is subtle and looks effortless. It brings a little oomph to a natural everyday look. However, Red Velvet is such a close second that they are almost on an equal level, a deep reddy brown (mostly red, don't be scared by the 'brownish' tone), but I find Pink Truffle an easier colour to develop and tame on the lips throughout the day making it the perfect 'on the go' lip colour. I gathered colours one or two at a time as tastes change and styles change, but the colours are so diverse I find myself reusing the colours I had forgotten about previously and falling back in love with them all over again. I do find myself worrying that I will cave in to the urge to buy even more colours and eventually become overrun with every shade and then having too much choice and just moving on to a whole new project.

I usually pat the lipstick off a little before going out just to soften the colour and make it look more casual. I tend not to wear them on nights out, especially not for meals, as they can slide on the lips and need a little care when worn as a bold, solid colour. This is just 5 of the 20-something shades available at around £8.

Pink Glow

There has been a lot of hype recently around the pink/neutral eyeshadows (as seen by the urban decay naked 3 pallette) I am partial to a little pink, but I'm definitely not a girly girl. However, my latest discovery is the Maybelline 24 Hr colour tattoo in 65-Pink Gold. I got this in a Glossybox about 3 months ago and ever since a first (and pretty shabby) attempt to use it, I have fallen completely in love with it. It's simple to apply, no fuss. 

                                      

I wear it on it's own, and sometimes with Mac- Satin Taupe in the crease just to make it a little more special on those nights out. 

                                      

The colours completely compliment each other, and easy to put together for someone who isn't very confident with the whole contouring of the eyes (like myself, I'm certainly no expert) 

                                       

I haven't needed to buy a new one because it just seems to be never ending, even after it's daily use. I was shocked by the staying power alongside the ease of use. Once put on, it really doesn't budge at all. It's undoubtedly not the cheapest eyeshadow out there, however it's certainly not at all expensive at around £8 per eyeshadow, and worth it trust me.