My current make-up routine

I tried to do this post back in 2016 but as I really wasn’t into blogging it just sat in my draft for a while (the only thing I’d written as the title). So I thought I’d give it a go again, it also made me revisit my 2015 post (My Daily Make-Up Routine + Swatches) and see what has changed and I’d say about 50% is the same. So we have progress and progress is good! As much hasn’t changed in terms of my tools, I didn’t go ahead and photograph everything, but I thought I’d share the new products that I’m now using.

Boots Haul

 I know, I know - another haul?! But this is actually a recent haul as opposed to a bunch of stuff from last month!

I ran out of a lot of things in June, so for me it was about stocking up. Then I spotted some offers on the website and I just couldn't resist getting my hands on some more bits and pieces.

Rimmel Eyeliners & Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in Berry

Along with my skincare purchases from Feel Unique, I also picked up a couple of make-up bits. So I thought I’d show you them and tell you what I thought.

Now that we’re in that spring/summer season I wanted to change up my eyeliner game. It's summer and I just wanted to gravitate towards colour more. I always use black eyeliner in my waterline and after seeing Lily’s make-up menu with blue eyeliner I really wanted to just try something different. Also after seeing that I also saw my friend wear purple eyeliner and I thought “yeah, I’m gonna pick myself up some different coloured eyeliner.” It was also coincidental that a week after wearing the products, I read a piece in the Stylist magazine about being a bit more daring with your make-up and using different coloured eyeliners!

So whilst buying my skincare I spotted an offer from Rimmel on eyeliners. My favourite eyeliner that I use daily from Rimmel, so I thought I would stick with the same brand. So I ended up buying as the offer was 3 for 2. Although they are all from Rimmel they are from different lines within the brand.

Rimmel Soft Kohl Eye Pencil in Jungle Green - £2.99

The first one is this green eyeliner. In the swatch it shows up quite vividly but when I put it in my waterline it isn’t so vivid on me. Obviously on lighter skin tones this would show up a lot more. On myself it is noticeable but it’s not as bright as I wanted it to be. I also think that it fades away far too easily, I was a bit surprised considering my black one doesn’t budge all day. This has creamy formula though and glides on to my waterline smoothly. I do wish it had a bit more punch to the colour but I do love using this to switch up my make-up look. Out of the three I purchased, this is my least favourite just because it doesn't show up so well on me.

 Rimmel Special Eyes Eyeliner Pencil in Azure Shimmer - £2.99

I find that this blue one just doesn’t pack enough punch for me. It does have a really good formula as it glides on easily and doesn’t tug at my skin but I really have to apply and apply to get it near the colour I want. I think perhaps for my skin it isn’t the right shade of blue, but it definitely is easy to work with.  I have the same complaint as the rest; the pigmentation just isn’t great enough to produce the same colour that is in product, on my waterline.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Liner in Purple in £3.99

This is my favourite one to use as I think the purple really suits me and when I use it, I feel like my whole make-up application just looks softer when I wear this. I think this is the one colour I’m going to purchase from another brand; I’d like something that has a bit more vibrancy to it so that it can really stand out when I wear it. But for work this is actually perfect, it’s soft and gentle enough to wear to work but still look a bit bold and daring.

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush in 06 Berry - £6.49

I’ve been wanting a cream blush for aaaaaages so I looked around briefly for something within my budget and decided to get this. Oh man I wish I had not. This has shimmer in it which I did not know, so I was not happy about that. But I’ve tried this on my skin with foundation on and without and I find it really hard to get a colour payoff unless I’m applying loads. Quite frankly I do not want to be applying loads of this product on my face, it just feels like way too much. It’s very sheer which I guess can be great for some skin tones, but on darker skin tones like mine it just does not sit well. I also had that it has shimmer, so yeah not a product I will be using any time soon.

So that is my mini make-up haul. I’m really glad I tried these different coloured eyeliners and I’ll definitely be going in store to try some higher end brands to find some with a high colour pay off. Are they are brands that you would recommend?

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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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2014 Round Up - Popular Posts

Considering we are approaching the New Year I thought now would be an appropriate time to round up my most read posts of the year. I've never done this before, but after realising that people actually read my blog, I was super intrigued to know what sorts of posts were popular. I've compiled a list of the top 10.

1. Smashbox Liquid Halo HD Foundation Review + Photo Finish Primer 

2. The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil Review

3. Introducing BeZonter Christmas Crackers 
4. October Book List 

5. Book Review: The List
6. Cleansers On The Go 

7. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant Review 
8. Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama 24H Gel Liner (Black) Review 

9. December Book List 
10. September Birchbox 

So that's it for my final post of 2014! I'd like so say a huge thank you to all of you who read my blog! It means so much to me looking at my analytics and statistics and seeing that people are actually engaging with my blog. I'm not one to focus on numbers or followers, so it actually means the world to me that I see the amount of reads or clicks on links increasing. This has been happening since the second half of the year and has really shown me that putting the effort in will get you results. I'm even impressed at my bloglovin' stats - I don't promote my bloglovin so much but I've managed to increase it by over 50% since March this year. 

Anyway enough numbers for now, but I really do want to say a massive massive thank you for taking the time to read my little space on the internet. I'm really looking forward to 2015 and where I will take this blog. For me I just love writing, so it will always be about creating enjoyable and relatable content, and I'm really excited for how I'm going to go about that in 2015! 

What are your most read posts of the year? Link them below as I'd love to have a look! 

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Nail Rock

Continuing my nail obession, I came across this website
Nail Rock
and I'm in love with all the different prints they have! I decided to make two purchases today! My birthday is looming and I'm not sure any one knows me well enough to get me gifts I'll absolutely adore, so I've taken it upon myself to spoil myself :)

I haven't actually tried these stick on nail things, but I do have some that I bought from Penneys (Primark in England, but I purchased them there) and I plan to try them this weekend! Fingers crossed they go well as my boyfriends sister had them and they looked fabulous. And I'm looking forward to trying these ones out because they look absolutely gorgeous. 

 I also got my self some design eyeliner prints. They look lovely and will be great for a night or just wanting to look fabulous! Plus I'm really lazy when it comes to liquid eyeliner, unless I have plenty of time to do it I don't usually bother! 

They have a more exciting one for those of you that are a pro at doing your eye liner and what something more exciting. They also have lip designs, eye tattoo designs and of course loads and loads of nail designs. 

I highly recommend you check them out and I will certainly let you know how the products turn out when I use them!
You also get 10% off your first purchase! They were lovely enough to give me this off, even though I'd already purchased and not put in the code!