My Daily Make-up Routine + Swatches

I’m not very experimental with makeup and so I reach for the same thing everyday, so I thought hey why not write about my every day make-up products. Although I’m hoping to switch things up with nude/neutral lip colours and different colour blushes, I thought today I’d talk about my make-up stash. My products and brushes are not in pristine condition because I actually use it on a day to day basis (read I am too lazy to wash anything for my blog). 

The first thing I do is prime my face. I’ve been switching between the Benefit Porefessional and my Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (oil free version) I got with my first purchase of my Smashbox foundation. I either use them separately or mix them. I didn’t really think I needed a primer but the other day I put my makeup on without it, because I was only wearing it for a few hours and I was like this feels WEIRD.  I then go in with concealer, I use the Becca Compact Concealer in the shade Chestnut (I think). I purchased this from Fragrance Direct for like £5.00 but it isn't available there any more. I didn't take picture of it open because it doesn't look all that great, but click the link and you'll see a much better one! I know people like to conceal after but this one states to conceal first. And I kind of prefer it that way if I'm honest. I use the Real Techniques Concealer Brush from their Core Collection.

I use the Real Techniques Buffing Brush to blend my concealer in. I then take the Foundation Brush from The Core Collection and dot the Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation in Shade 10 around my face. I then go back with my buffing brush and make sure everything is blended in. Next I powder my face with the powder I got in my Sleek Foundation Base Duo in Henna (the foundation ran out a long time ago) and the Elf Powder Brush. I was completely clueless about powders when I bought this foundation and I still kinda am, but I keep this with me during the day to deal with the excess oil. 

Next is bronzer. I don’t always do this, but sometimes when I feel I am looking lacklustre I like to use it on my temples and under my cheekbones.I use the Elf Baked Bronzer in the colour Bora Bora. I have had this for over a year and I looks like I haven’t used it at all! I use it the Real Techniques Blush Brush, as I feel it just distributes the perfect amount and is a good size.

I then move on to blush. The only blush palette I own and really the only blushes I do own, are the Sleek Blush Pumpkin. As you can see it comes with three shades - P Pie, Squash and Latern (L-R). I used to use Latern a lot because I didn't really fancy the other two and I hated the shimmer in P Pie, but lately I have actually been reaching for P Pie and when applied lightly it is actually very nice.

Next I move on to my eyes, I use the Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer in my waterline and then comes mascara. I use the Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara followed by the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara until I get my desired affect. Then I move on to my brows. Sometimes I do this before anything else (primer, concealer etc) and sometimes I do it last - it actually just depends on when I remember to do them!  I brush the hairs with the spoolie on the Maybelline Eye Master Studio Brow, I actually just use the spoolie now as I ran out of the product, I hated the product but I love the spoolie. I then fill them in with the Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil, sometimes I set them in place with Revlon Brow Fantasy (not a fan of it). I don’t really like (name) but I’m just using it up, I desperately love the Maybelline Brow Drama, so will be getting that again.

Occasionally I will do in with the winged eyeliner and when I that I use the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner which I reviewed here, with my Zoeva Fine Liner Brush 315.

 L - R Sleek Smother, Revlon Black Cherry, Wet n Wild Sugar Plum Fairy and Avon Lucky Kiss.

Then my lips! I have a couple of colours on rotation that I use and like I mentioned here, I am just drawn to purple plummy shades. The ones I reach for weekly are Wet n Wild's Sugar Plum Fairy, Revlon's Black Cherry, Sleek's Smother and Avon's Lucky Kiss. Sorry one of the swatches is smudged, I totally forgot I had it on my arm!

So that’s it! I carry around a few bits with me for touch ups and definitely take my powder and powder brush with me.

I have a small make-up collection and really only plan to increase it with a few more products, but even what I have feels overwhelming to me sometimes. I am definitely a lip product lover, I just love how they can transform any look.

What products do you reach for on a day to day basis? 

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Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation Review + Photo Finish Primer

So about two weeks ago I went off in search for a new foundation. My MAC was too light for me and I just wanted a better one than my Sleek one, I also wanted an oil free foundation. After watching Lisa Eldridge’s foundation series, I thought I would try Revlon Color Stay, so I headed off to Marble Arch Superdrug and Boots to see if they would have my colour. No such luck! However the new Boots that has opened up in Marble Arch had a Smashbox stand and I thought I’d just browse and had one of the lovely assistants come up to me. I told her what I was looking for and my skin type and she recommended me this foundation: 

 When she applied it on I thought, 'bloody hell she is applying a lot' but now after using it I see that it felt like a lot because the pump emits the smallest amount. Anyway in the store it looked wonderful but I was sceptical because of the bright lighting in store. I purchased the Liquid Halo HD Foundation (oil free) at £27 something, and came home to look at it properly. I even rubbed off half my face and got my friend to look at the difference to see if it was worth keeping. She said yes, so you know three opinions on the foundation were good enough for me to keep it and try it. Plus I was going out that night so I whipped it out of the box to try it. 

 I didn’t see a point in swatching it on my hand because my hands are several shades lighter than my face. I’ve ummed and ahhed about this foundation for a bit since wearing it over the past couple of weeks. I think the main thing is; I’m used to feeling foundation on my skin and with this I felt like it was barely there! Although this is a good thing (very good) it was weird for me, I had to keep looking in the mirror to check that I had actually applied some to my face! It was only 3 days ago that I looked again at the bottle and realised it was a HD foundation. After my lusting for Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover foundation I was so shocked at myself for not noticing. I don’t know if the HD factor is the reason for its soft like feeling on the skin but whatever it is I certainly like it!

 Overall I really like this foundation. I don’t wear foundation on a day to day basis but I feel like it is an all purpose foundation for me simply because, on day to day occasions I can wear it when my skin looks rough and it doesn’t look try hard. But then for special occasions I can build it up for the occasion. The foundation is medium to full coverage and is a 30ml bottle. I also love how much of a perfect match this is for my skin tone; I have never had a foundation that suits my face colour and neck so well. It is also a 16 hour wear foundation. 

 I also received a sample of their primer with my purchase, as she put that on my face before doing applying the foundation. This is the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (again oil free).

 I love this primer! Now that I have tried this one, I really don’t think I can bear to put my foundation on without it, I have tried this foundation without the primer and I didn’t feel it looked as great and my T-Zone got oiler very quickly. So next thing to purchase and weep about is the primer. I also received some samples of their new eye shadow palette, but of course I’ve misplaced that! I am looking forward to trying more from Smashbox though because I’ve generally heard many good things about them.

 Have you ever tried anything from Smashbox? What other thing should I try?