Beauty SOS!

Why hello, and welcome to the first ever Beauty SOS post! This is the first in a series of posts which will go up on roughly the first Monday of each month from now on, and is a chance for me to call upon your great wealth of beauty knowledge in order to further my own beauty collection in an educated, informed fashion. It's also a chance for you all to do the same, and will hopefully become a little space each month for us to share our biggest and best beauty secrets.

Let me explain.

I am constantly on the look-out for fantastic new beauty products, and while I have tried and tested a great many in my time, there is always something or other that is missing from my collection. Whether that's because I haven't ever bought them, or I've bought the wrong one, didn't get on with a product for some reason or can't get hold of it any more, it all comes down to the same thing, and that is that there are some great big gaps in my collection that need to be filled. So, I thought, what better way to have my requirements met than to ask you lovely ladies for your words of wisdom. I can't think of anyone else more qualified to give them! Therefore, each month, I'll be asking for your recommendations on the specific types of products I'm after, and requesting your tips on various beauty related topics - as well as offering to do the same for you in return.

So, without further ado, here is the first installment!

1. DARK CIRCLES UNDER THE EYES.
 Help!!! I have recently, out of nowhere, started getting really dark circles under my eyes, and no matter what lengths I go to, nothing seems to have the strength to send them back to wherever they came from. I've tried various under-eye creams to treat the problem, as well as industrial-strength concealers such as my beloved Benefit Erase Paste in Shade 02 (which I had always thought was the best out there until now), and all to no avail. So if anyone thinks they know of something that could help with this, whether it be a treatment or a cover-up, or even a makeup strategy, then please, I beg of you, leave me the deets in the comments box below!

2. MATTE BRONZER
I'm on the look-out for a new matte bronzer, having smashed my lovely L'oreal Glam Bronze to smithereens on the bathroom floor. I loved it, and while I could buy a new one, I think it's time to take the opportunity to try something new. I don't want any shimmer, and it has to be a shade I can contour with, too - unless you happen to know of two amazing but separate products, which would also be of great assistance.

3. NEUTRAL MATTE EYESHADOWS
I adore my Urban Decay Naked palette, but it just doesn't have any matte shades, and I am finding myself , more and more recently, wanting to save my pretty shimmery shades for special occasions and nights out, and go for something a little bit more natural looking during the day. It's mainly because if I use the glitzy ones on a more regular basis then I feel that I look just the same when I want to get all dressed up and create a look that stands out.

4. BLOCKED PORES (NOSE).
This is one that has been the bane of my life for many years now. No matter what I do to try and rid myself of them, they are always back to how they were within an hour or two. They are not horribly noticeable or anything,  but it still really annoys me, as my nose feels slightly bumpy to touch, and when I apply my foundation, it tends to cling and emphasise them even more. I just hate them, basically.

So there you have it, the four things I ask of you for the month of July! Please do leave me a comment below if you can recommend any of the products I'm after, or have any related tips! I'd really appreciate your participation.
Also, please feel free to leave me your own requests, and I will do my best to help you with them and give you some suggestions.