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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Recent purchases from Boots

So on Saturday I set myself the mission of getting some things off my ‘to buy list’ so I took myself off to Oxford Street and ended up in the Boots near Marble Arch.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry

I have been looking for a deeper shade of lipstick for a while, I own a lot of deep purples but I really wanted something a bit vampy and red, after seeing ItsLinamar swatch Black Cherry I decided I’d check it out. I nearly didn’t buy this because when I got to Boots and swatched it, I though it looked similar to a lot of my other lipsticks, but boy was I wrong. I actually decided in Boots that I wouldn’t get Black Cherry but Va Va Violet, so I picked up that (or what I thought was that) instead. On my way home I decided to have a peek at my goodies and noticed that some cretin put Black Cherry in the Va Va Violet slot and I was indeed still carrying Black Cherry. I was already near my house and tbh going back was out of the question for me. Luckily for me Camden has a Boots so I decided I’d go swap it before I went home, so I walk in to Boots and of course they don’t even stock Va Va Violet. So Black Cherry and I were meant to be. When I got home and put it on I found that boy I was wrong, I did not have this shade at all. It was exactly what I have been looking for, so I’m glad I have this baby. It’s a crème finish so really is perfect for everyday. I shall most likely do a swatch and review of this a little later.

Barry M Crush

I was also on the hunt for Barry M’s Blood Red but alas I couldn’t find it. I did however want a burgundy shade and as I mentioned in this post, I have been craving a matte nail varnish. So I came across ‘Crush’ and it met both my needs, so I snapped it up. I’ve worn it already and absolutely love the shade and it’s perfect for autumn. It isn’t too dark and vampy but it being that reddish burgundy colour means it provides the autumnal feel whilst being sophisticated.

No7 Beautiful Skin Pore Vacuum Mask

The last thing I bought was this by No7. I actually heard about this from Sian in her skincare video. I was really intrigued because this is a peel mask. I remember using peel masks back in my early teens and haven’t actually touched one since. I need all the help I can with my pores, so I was more than happy to snap it up. Call me weird but I was super attracted to the word ‘Vacuum’ in the title, anything that gives me the impression that it is going to suck up my pores can stay in my book. Anyway I’ve used this twice (the first time involved me having to open the door to the pizza guy – the shame), as instructed I use it on my nose and a small bit on my forehead. I also use it on my chin. I of course was not able to peel it all off in one go (can anyone actually do that) but I did enjoy the peeling element, and upon the first inspection of my pores they looked like they had reduced in size. If anything my nose looked cleaner and there were fewer blackheads! I will give a full review once I’ve been using it for a while.

And that was my Boots round up! I managed to get 10% off this because I had loaded the offer through the Boots app, so that was a nice surprise! I also snuck into Superdrug after buying the Barry M nail varnish and saw they were doing 3 for 2, so I think I might have to pick up some more colours!

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MAC Heroine Review

So on abut two weeks ago I made my first MAC lipstick purchase. I’ve never actually been drawn to purchase one, but when a friend mentioned she wanted one for her birthday, I saw it as an opportunity to get myself one (duh). Instead of picking a nice muted shade I opted for 'Heroine.' I swatched it when my friend and I went to Selfridges to make our own magnums (so frikkin good) and fell in love. I originally wanted to try out 'Pure Heroine' from Lorde's collection because it’s a deep deep purple and darker shades are my thing, but it wasn’t there. Instead I was drawn to this beauty and once I had swatched this, tried it on and got my friends opinion, I was sold. I actually remember reading about Heroine being a permanent shade a while back, but it never caught my eye or anything when that was happening.

Heroine is a matte purple lipstick, I’m not even going to try and write about blue tones or what not because I know nothing about that It’s described as a bright purple lipstick, but it’s not that bright which is what makes it work. None of my pictures seemed to do it justice, but hey I tried! I could go on all day about the colour but I mean you can see it is a fantastic shade of purple and for me purple can do no wrong. Purple is also my favourite colour so for me this gem is all round certified goodness.

I wore it out on a Saturday night and I was so happy with the colour and staying power! As I mentioned before the finish is matte, but it is still hydrating and doesn’t seep into lines. The pigmentation of this is incredible, what you see is what you get on your lips. The staying power on this is ridiculously good – it last all night and survived my cleansing oil; albeit it was faded it was still there.

I could rave all day about the lipsticks but I’m sure none of you are as late as me when it comes to MAC lipsticks, so you’ll know how great the formula is. As for me I know I’ll definitely pick up another lipstick soon, but right now I don’t have any particular shade in mind but it won’t take me long!

What are your favourite lipsticks from MAC?

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