What's In My Makeup Bag? (Every-Day Makeup)

Today I thought I'd share the current contents of my makeup bag with you. When I say makeup bag, I mean the bits from it that I am finding myself reaching for the most - if I showed you the entire contents then a) it'd take an absolute age, as it's huge, and b) goodness knows what we'd find in there!

So, without further ado, here they are.

IT Cosmetics Concealer (shade Neutral Medium)

I had never heard of this concealer before, but whilst on the hunt for something industrial strength to cover my dark circles and replace my Benefit Erase Paste. I actually found this on Ebay, and while I would never usually buy makeup on there, this was from a trusted seller from whom I have bought other types of products in the past. Anyway, I thought I'd give it a try. This is a thick, pale concealer with a dewy finish, and it does leave my under-ee area looking quite refreshed and bright. But it's not a miracle worker. Nothing is.

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup

I got this one back in the summer, and during the warmer months I found myself wanting to reach for tinted moisturisers more and more. This has actually continued on into the winter, bucking the usual trend, as I just haven't wanted to go back to the feeling of something heavy on my skin. It helps that my skin is in pretty good condition at the moment thanks to a good skincare routine, so I don't find that I need too much coverage. This Invisible Fluid Makeup literally blends straight in with my skin. It's so light, and matches my skin-tone perfectly, evening it out and giving me a healthy-looking complexion. I actually haven't done a full review of this one yet so watch this space as I'm planning on writing one soon.

Caudalie Teint Divin Tinted Moisturiser

This is another light skin product I've been reaching for, and whilst this looks scarily orange when you first squeeze it out, it does blend nicely into the skin and leave you with a nice glowy complexion. To be honest, I've only been using this one for a coupleof weeks, but so far I'm quite liking it.

Benefit The Porefessional

I got this little tube of goodness free with Glamour magazine about six months ago, and it's still going strong despite it's tiny size. I do only use this on my t-zone, but I really like it for mattifying the area and creating a silky-smooth base for my tinted moisturiser to glide onto. I really like the fact that it keeps oil at bay and have already got my hands on a stand-by tube for when this one runs out.

Benefit Hoola Blush

Please excuse the scruffy packaging. For a start, this is only a sample size, and secondly I did try and give it a good scrub so that it would look it's best for the cameras, but it just wasn't cooperating.

Actually, this is not my favourite bronzer ever, and whilst I do find it ok, I was a little bit disappointed with it considering how hyped up it's been. I much prefer the L'oreal Glam Bronze Blonde Harmony, which is the perfect shade for me despite being a brunetter, and leaves my skin looking really healthy. Like Hoola, it's a matte blush, so no disco-ball effect to worry about.

I'm using Hoola at the moment because I haven't got anything else.

Nars Blush in Deep Throat

This is a really pretty light peachy-pink shade, which I have been really enjoying using since I got it a couple of weeks ago. I had run out of my all-time favourite blush (Benefit Coralista, if you're interested), so I thought it was time I finally took the pricey plunge and tried out some Nars. This has fast become a favourite of mine, although it still hasn't knocked Coralista off the top spot.

Mac Mineralise Skinfinish in Light Year

I actually posted a full review of this beaut last week. Being a huge fan of the MSF in shade  Soft and Gentle I was keen to get my paws on another one, and this one was so beautiful it just jumped out of me. This is a peachy-pink with gold shimmer, and looks really pretty worn both as a highlighter and as a blush.

Mac Amplified Lipstick in Craving

This is a gorgeous dusky berry pink shade, and is actually darker than it appears in the photos. I am really loving this lipstick at the moment and find it the perfect colour for the winter months. The staying power is actually pretty good too, and that's saying something if you're me, as nothing lasts two seconds on my lips.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie

I got his one back in the summer, but have resurrected it for A/W. It's a highly pigmented berry-pink shade which applies easily and moisturises the lips. Win.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

This has become my go-to on those days where I feel like going for more of a natural look, or I can't be doing with the maintenance of a bold lip. This really is a classic 'your lips but better' shade and so I always carry it with me in my handbag. Being a balm stain, this is also quite moisturising, which - let's be honest - we could all do with a bit of help with in the colder months.

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara

This is my all-time favourite mascara and I'll repurchase it again and again. It leaves my lashes looking really long and voluminous, but they also look nice and natural - none of this clumping or spider-leg effect. Love.

Topshop Eyes Kohl Liner

This is a deep, dark navy blue, the name of which I unfortunately have been unable to find out. To be honest, I haven't been using much eyeliner of late, but if I do fancy something to define the lower outer corners of my eyes then this is it.

You might have noticed that I haven't included and eyeshadows in here, and that's because I rarely wear them nowadays. However, in the last week or so I have found myself getting really into Tanya Burr's makeup tutorial videos over on Youtube, which has resulted in some experimentation of my own. So watch this space - we may make an eyeshadow wearer out of me yet.

Well, that's it for my current makeup-bag favourites, hope you enjoyed having a little rummage and a nose around!

What are your makeup staples this season?

xx

Every Day Makeup

Recently, I've found that I've changed up my daily beauty routine a little bit. I've been experimenting more with primers and serums, which if I'm honest, were products I didn't really see the point in before, being a skeptic and not really believing they'd make much of a difference. However, as it turns out, I was wrong, and as a result, have been able to change some of the other products I was using too. I've found myself wanting to go for a really basic, natural look for the warmer months, and I like that this gives me more scope for creating a more dramatic look for a night out, rather than just feeling that I look the same all the time.

 Read on for details of my current face of the moment.

L'oreal Youth Code Luminise Super Serum

Now, I don't often say this about a product, and I certainly didn't think I'd be saying this about a serum. But this stuff is absolutely amazing! I was sent several samples in the post, and wasn't particularly excited about trying them, but one morning, when I had woken up looking particularly tired and...well...rough, I decided to slap some on to give my skin a little boost. The serum claims to 'even and illuminate',  and it really does do just that. I was amazed to see how well it had evened out my skin tone and even almost felt that I could go makeup free (I say almost because my puffy, dark-circled eyes would not allow for it). Seriously, really impressed, and no, no one has paid me to say this. I have been using it on a daily basis ever since (each sample allows for about four or five applications) and am eager to get my hands on a full-size version of the product before I run out.

Benefit The Porefessional

I don't really suffer from enlarged pores just yet (thank goodness), but recently I have found that my T-zone has suddenly become oily, causing my makeup to slide off my face. As you can imagine, this did not make for a very good look come the end of the day, and, tired of glancing in the mirror and wanting to cry (I've always had good skin!) I decided to give this stuff a go and see if it would help with that. I really think that it does, as it mattifies the area, provides a good base for my makeup and seems to keep things as they should be for that bit longer. Hurrah.

Benefit Erase Paste in Shade No.2

I somehow forgot to include this in the collective photo, but make no mistake, I can't live without this thanks to my dark circles and puffy morning eyes. It's the best concealer I've tried, and I've been using it daily for about a year now. It doesn't work miracles though, so I'm still on the lookout for something that does!

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup in 2WN1

I had tried a couple of samples of this about six months ago and really liked it, so recently I caved and bought it. I was gutted when I first applied it only to find that my skin just didn't look how I had remembered with it on, and I actually took it off and put on my usual Revlon Photoready instead, and this product was left sitting on my shelf for a couple of weeks. But then, after trying out the L'oreal Youth Code Super Serum for the first time, I felt confident enough to try popping on my Invisible Fluid again, and I wasn't disappointed. The two of them have been my favourite combo ever since. Invisible Fluid is pretty sheer, so I would only recommend wearing it either in the summer or if you are blessed with an even skin tone, but if you can relate to neither of these then the serum is your friend and you can pretty much wear it any time :)

L'oreal Glam Bronze Duo in Blonde

I love this bronzer. You can see in the picture that I've got mere crumbs left, but I'm making the most of them! This is a lovely matte bronzer (no shimmer) made up of two different shades (one light, one dark) and together they combine to make the perfect shade for contouring and adding a bit of colour for my skin tone. As you know, I'm not actually blonde, but I do have quite naturally pale skin - not milky white, but very light - so this is just right for me. I actually much prefer this to Benefit Hoola and will definitely be re-stocking soon.

Benefit Posie Tint

I have been pretty much obsessed with the Benefit Coralista blush since I got it, and had therefore neglected this little Posie Tint sample size, which I got my hands on at the same time. But over the past couple of weeks I have been really enjoying using this on my cheeks for a really pretty, dewy, rosie glow.

Mac Mineralise Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle

This is one of those products that everyone raves about, and yet it has always been 'just ok' for me.   I quite liked it, but then it was nothing special. But somehow, now that I'm using it along with Posie Tint, it has really grown on me, and the 'healthy glow' effect it gives seems to be far greater, so I am finally finding that I really want to put this on each day rather than having to remind myself to use some just because I've got it and I don't want it to have been a waste of money. I'm really happy that I've now found a way to make it work for me.

Topshop Eyes Kohl Liner 

I've been enjoying using this liner in place of my usual black or brown. It's a really deep, dark blue and I usually use it just on the outer corners of my lower lash line, or sometimes along my top lash line too if I fancy something different - it really depends on my mood.

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara in Brown

My all-time favourite mascara, and still going strong. Read my review  here.

Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie

Resurrecting the Lip Butters! This is a gorgeous berry shade and is perfect for the coming Autumn/Winter season. It's really rather pigmented compared to most of the other Lip Butter shades, and after over-dosing on corals and pinks for summer, this is a welcome addition to my daily routine. Although saying that, I don't use it every day - I still switch up my lip colours a bit, but I wanted to include a lip product and this is my current favourite.

What are your current beauty favourites?

xx

What's in My Makeup Bag?

Benefit Erase Paste in no.2 (medium)

Mac Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 in shade NW30

L'oreal Glam Bronze powder in Blonde Harmony

L'oreal Glam Bronze Sun Radiance Trio in Blondes

Mac Mineralise Blush in Gleeful

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes in brown

Mac Mineralise Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle

Collection (formerly Collection 2000) Lasting Colour Lipstick in Sweet Tart (8)

No.7 Wild Volume Lipstick in Ruby Glow

I have splurged a bit on makeup recently as I was starting to run out of so many products. I'm also the sort of person that gets bored quite easily, so by the time I've finished a foundation, I'll be on the hunt for a new one. Sometimes I do end up going back to the originals, but I really enjoy experimenting in between!

I am really loving lip products at the moment, and have bought so many lipsticks in the last month! I think I've picked up around eleven, but the four I use the most are the two I have included here, along with Topshop Lips in Infrared and Mac Amplified Creme in Vegas Volt, both of which I have talked about in recent posts.

Also LOVING the Benefit Erase Paste concealer. It's ridiculously pricey for such a small pot, but I decided to give it a try after reading about it on Zoella. I suffer from dark circles under my eyes most mornings, but this little gem does exactly what it says on the pot! Well worth the £18.50 I paid for it......it could be a bit cheaper though, couldn't it!?

In other news, my man and I have decided to move house! Our apartment is huge, with three bedrooms and bathrooms, and we were really lucky to find it at such a low price, but unfortunately, the size of it means that it's a nightmare to keep clean! It's also quite old, so we've decided we want to move to a newer and smaller place and make it really nice and homely. Let the house hunting commence!

If you would like to see any reviews of the products currently gracing my makeup bag then please say so in the comments below!

What's in your makeup bag at the moment?

Friday Favourites

I know, I know, it's Saturday! Sorry to be posting this a day late, but things have been really hectic what with Easter and family visiting! Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend!

The aim of Friday Favourites is to share, unsurprisingly, a few of my favourite beauty products and fashion items of the moment, so here goes.

MAC Amplified Creme lipstick in Vegas Volt, £13.50

I absolutely love this lipstick and just cannot stop wearing it at the moment! It's a gorgeous, creamy orange-coral and is another great shade for spring/summer. It's buildable, so you can achieve a gorgeous opaque finish, or you can apply a light layer and rub it in to your lips for a more subtle stain.

Love it!

Miss Selfridge Petites floral print playsuit, £37

My favourite Spring purchase so far, this playsuit is a really flattering cut, and I was thrilled to find it in the petites section as I'm a shortie. I usually find it hard to find dresses and playsuits in the right length for me, and most shops only have a very limited selection of items in their Petites range. I love the pastel colours of this one and will be wearing it dressed down with sandals and a skinny tan belt on hot summer days, and styling it up with a cropped blazer, heels and gold jewellery for nights out. If you want to see how I'm wearing it, I will be doing an OOTD post on it by the end of next week (camera permitting. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am currently having some issues with mine).

Miss Sporty Lasting Colour nail varnish in Red Tango,  £1.99, Superdrug

I didn't expect much of this cheap and cheerful nail varnish when I picked it up, at least not in terms of quality, but the bright, zingy colour was irresistible. Can you tell by now that I have a bit of a thing for orange-corals!?

Actually, these little polishes come with a graduated-tip brush, and the curved shape makes it extremely easy to paint your nails. Two coats and you are good to go.

I am also loving the gorgeous, shimmery pastel green shade (second from left), but sadly I don't know the name as it doesn't say on the bottle, and I can't find it anywhere online.

I really like the Miss Sporty colours, but I will say that they are not the most long-wearing of polishes, so are best for a quick fix.

Coral Crepe Shorts, £29, Miss Selfridge

Ok, I think my obsession with coral might be getting slightly out of hand! I didn't actually realise, until I started writing this post, that I had a running theme on the go!

But anyway, I recently picked up these shorts and they are a godsend for holidays as the material is really thin (yet not transparent, so don't worry about VPL!) and floaty, and airy. They are great with a plain white vest, and sandals for a casual daytime look. Day and night outfits post coming soon.

So that's it for the first installment of Friday Favourites! I hope you've enjoyed seeing what I'm loving at the moment.

Do you own, or have you at some point tried any of the items above? 

What did you think of them?

What are your current favourites?

xx

Topshop Makeup Giveaway

Hello, hope everyone is having a fantastic Easter weekend and celebrating with plenty of chocolate!  I absolutely love the Lindtt bunnies! What are your favourite Easter chocolates?

Just thought I'd let you all know about a rather marvellous giveaway that's going on over on Frances Cassandra's blog.
To celebrate reaching 1000 followers, she is giving away a Topshop lipstick, blush and nail polish of your choice! Can't say fairer than that!

I would definitely choose  Topshop Lips in Brighton Rock,  their cream blush in 'Flush', and  the amazing 'Hidden Treasure nail polish.

  

Personally, I absolutely love Topshop makeup so far. Have you tried anything from their collection? If not, I strongly advise that you go and do so, or better still, go and enter this great giveaway as if you are lucky enough to win, then these items will be a great start to your collection!

You've got until 5th May to enter, so good luck!

xx

Mini Topshop Makeup Haul!

Hey guys, I've got a mini Topshop make-up haul for you today!

I have been after a few bits from the Topshop make-up range for ages now, so I popped in to my local branch last week and this is what I picked up:

Powdered Blush in 'Powdered' (left).

I actually went in looking for the shade 'Pop', being a lover of a good coral, and thought that was what I had bought until I got home and realised my mistake! I was pretty annoyed about this at first as I'd had my eye on 'Pop' for an absolute age, and the in-your-face pink of this shade didn't look at all wearable. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I did a colour swatch on my arm, and even more so when I applied a small amount to my cheeks. Now, I must point out that usually, I would hate such an overly 'pink', sickly shade like this, as I much prefer a more natural glow. I also must say that I know that on the swatch above, it does look exactly as I have just described it, and if you put a large amount on your cheeks, it wouldn't be a good look. But by putting just a light dusting along my cheek bones, I achieved a rosy-cheeked look that I really quite looked. LESS IS MORE, LADIES!! I can't say that I would necessarily choose this blush in future; given the option, I'd still go with 'Pop' (shown above on the swatch, it's the one on the right). But nevertheless, I'm glad I managed to salvage something from my accidental purchase!

Lipstick in 'Infrared'.

I am soooo excited to finally have this lipstick! It is a lovely, moisturising formulation in an orangey-red shade, and you can apply one layer to get a nice tint, or a couple of layers to get the full effect and a really bold look.

I have been after this since seeing it some of Zoella's Youtube videos and on her blog. Like her, I do love a good orange, so needless to say, this is the perfect shade for me. I find oranges to be really wearable shades, especially if you've got a reasonably pale skin tone like me, and they are perfect for Spring ( I also love corals for Spring and have recently purchased MAC's 'Vegas Volt', which is an 'Amplified' - review coming up).  Apologies for not having any examples of what this colour looks like on the lips at the moment but do bear with me, and as soon as I've got my camera sorted (it's broken :-( ) I will get some up here sharpish!

Lip Marker in 'Hot Shot'.

This is a bright, vibrant red, and is along the lines of Revlon's Just Bitten range, in that you basically colour in your lips with the nib and it leaves a nice stain on your lips. However, unlike the Just Bitten, it does not include a balm to moisturise your lips, and so I found it to be very drying. If your lips are already dry, then don't even bother - at least not until you've got them in tip top condition. Personally, I do suffer from slightly dry lips, so this was not a good look for me, but I will be trying it again when I have managed to get my smile sorted!

Kohl Liner in 'Bolt' (second from right).

This is a very dark, shimmery, charcoal blue, and I absolutely love it. It's perfect for creating a smokey eye for a night out, but what struck me about it was the great pigmentation and the ease with which I was able to apply it. It's definitely not one of those liners where you have to go over and over it to get any effect. It is very smooth and creamy, not to mention bold. Love it!

Hope you guys are all well. Have you bought anything from the Topshop makeup range recently? What did you think of it?