July Beauty and Lifestyle Favourites

Hi there! It has been so long since I’ve been able to write a blog post as A-Levels basically took over my life! However my exams are all over now and so I’m hoping that I’m going to be able to blog a lot more frequently over the Summer. I started writing this post a few weeks ago so even though I’m calling this post my July favourites, I just want to talk about all the things I’ve been loving since April as I feel like I’ve been gone for ages! Anyway, I hope that you like this post and I can’t wait to publish more over the next few weeks.

Beauty:

Rimmel Lasting Finish Primer – £6.99

My skin was so dull over the winter months and although I was hoping it would improve as the weather got brighter, it suffered due to the stress of exam season. However this primer helps me achieve the glowy, healthy look that I’m after and helps my makeup stay put all day long.

Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pans – £4.95 each

I’ve received so many compliments from friends in recent months about my eyeshadow and although I wish I could say I’ve just got better at my smokey eye skills, I think I really just need to thank Makeup Geek for making wonderful eyeshadows. The smooth blendable formulas allow you to effortlessly create any eye look in minutes and they are so pigmented and last so long – even on nights out where my eyeshadow would usually be smudged everywhere by 10pm.

Ardell Demi Wispies Lashes (£5.49) and Duo Lash Glue Dark (£5.49)

These have always been my favourite lashes however I’ve worn them more often than usual this month, I’ve gone through five pairs! The lashes themselves are too long for my lash line however this is easily fixed by trimming them slightly and once on, they pull my eye shadow look together so nicely! The lashes come with a little tube of Duo Clear/White lash glue which I take out with me just in case, however for applying them, I use the black Duo lash glue which sticks them down so well and I’ve not had them come loose on me at all during a night out. As long as you ensure that the lash glue is spread evenly when you apply it to the lash, leave it for 30 seconds to go tacky and then apply it straight to the lash with tweezers, they will should all night!

Music:

Black Magic & Junk Food Forever – The Amazons

I’d heard The Amazons’ other songs on Radio 1 and through social media a couple of times in the past and always thought ‘ooh I must check them out’ and never actually got round to it. However a couple of months ago I heard Black Magic on R1 and loved it and I opened my Spotify straightaway and added it to my ‘current faves’ playlist. I haven’t got round to listening to all of their stuff in full yet but I will be doing as I think I’m going to see them at the festival I’m going to soon.

Strangers feat. Lauren Jauregui, Now or Never & Bad At Love – Halsey 

I feel as though we were waiting for Hopeless Fountain Kingdom for so long, and now that its finally out I can’ say it was definitely worth the wait. The album is very different from her debut album Badlands in the sense that it follows more of a story of a romance and all the highs and lows of being in a relationship with a very Romeo and Juliet kind of vibe to it. Badlands was set in an alternative universe and was very dark for the majority of the record which I’d loved, and whilst HFK is still dark pop, it seems to be a little lighter than her debut which I’m also a fan of. Strangers and Now or Never are my firm favourites after having the album on repeat for about a month now, which I kind of hate myself for as these are the singles from this album and I wish I could love the rest just as much but Bad At Love is the only other one that comes close.

The Louvre, Sober & Supercut – Lorde 

This another album that I was so excited for as Pure Heroine, Lorde’s Debut Album, is one of my all time favourites. Prior to Melodrama’s release, Lorde released four singles from the album; Green Light, Liability, Perfect Places and Sober; all of which I loved.  My favourite of the singles was definitely Sober although I do think that The Louvre and Supercut would have been better singles and I’ll admit that I do like all the songs on the album which is rare for me these days! The record has a dark pop mood similar to that of Pure Heroine and HFK however I do find that I relate to Lorde’s songwriting and her experiences far more than Halsey’s, making this album more favourable for me over HFK however this doesn’t mean that it is a better record necessarily.

IDGAF, Genesis & Dreams – Dua Lipa

Dua’s album is another favourite of mine and I think I loved it from my first listen. I found Dua after the release of her single ‘Hotter Than Hell’ and from then on, I’ve been following her music and I went to see her live in April where she debuted a lot of the songs that would be on the album. I’d absolutely loved Genesis and New Rules live so I’m so glad that I can now listen to the studio versions which are just as good, if not better. The pop album tells the story of Dua’s relationship like HFK, however it has a much lighter mood and consists of both love and breakup songs but with an upbeat feel, making it the perfect Summer album!

Sorry and Amsterdam – Nothing But Thieves 

It has been almost two years since the release of Nothing But Thieves’ debut album and seen as I was a huge fan at the time (and still am!), I’ve really missed the hype of hearing their new music and seeing them live whilst they’ve been recording their new album for the first half of this year. Amsterdam was released in May as the band’s first single from their follow-up record and I think it is such a banger and I love listening to it before going out, despite the slightly dark tone to it. However, Sorry, which was released last week is my favourite of the two. The song starts slow and has a very moody feel however the song picks up from the chorus whilst the dark vibe continues, and I think that this may replace my previous NBT favourites.

TV:

Clique – BBC iPlayer

My Mum and I stumbled across this on BBC iPlayer a few weeks ago when desperately looking for something to watch late at night and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting much as I’d seen the trailer and it didn’t look that great. But oh my, this is SO gripping! The plot is so strange, it follows the lives of two girls, a year older than myself, who have gone to university and the ‘clique’ that they become involved in. Some of the themes are quite dark, including drugs and suicide, just as a pre-warning, but beyond that, the storyline keeps your mind ticking over every week wondering what will happen to the two girls now that they have joined the clique.

*update* I’ve now finished the series, and in some ways, I was surprised and shocked at the ending, but I’m most curious about whether or not they’ll make a second series or not as the final scene left me questioning whether or not there could be more to Holly’s story.

Fleabag – BBC iPlayer

I’ll admit, this one takes a while to warm up to, as I don’t think the first episode is the best, but if you stick with it, this is actually a brilliant comedy series. Seen as its only six short(ish) episodes, I binged watched these one evening and found it to be absolutely hilarious! Nicknamed ‘Fleabag’, the lead character is absolutely bonkers and I found myself crying-laughing at her bluntness towards everyone and anyone she meets – if you love comedy, or need a pick me up, give this a go, and let me know what you think!

Stranger Things – Netflix

I’m finally nearing the end of Stranger Things and I have to say I’m now glued to it. At first, I was a little confused and undecided as to whether I actually enjoyed it as I have never really been into Sci-Fi shows, however I have really liked it and found it to be really gripping, and I’m looking forward to the new series coming out later this year.

What have you been loving this month?

Kathryn x

 

Recent Drugstore Beauty Buys

Hi there! I feel as though its been so long since I did a post as I had some awful news a few weeks ago. I’ve decided to schedule my next few posts to ensure that my content is more regular as I get so annoyed and frustrated with myself when I don’t post for weeks.

Some of these drugstore products have been my favourites for a couple of months now however I have purposely waited to write a full post on them so that I could be more clued up on the products so that I can write honest reviews about them.

Rimmel Lasting Perfection Primer – £6.99

I’ve never really found a primer I love until I tried this! I’ve tried Smashbox and Benefit primers – neither of which I liked and did my skin absolutely no favours, but this offering from Rimmel is my perfect primer. The formula gives a dewy, glowy base for foundation and adds extra radiance to even satin and matte finish foundations. If you like a shine-free finish this won’t be one for you, but if you like a more radiant look, this may become your new favourite too.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara – £7.99

I really struggle to get along with mascara as I have really sensitive eyes that cause the majority of mascaras to run. However this £7.99 bargain is the only mascara to date that I’ve tried that is completely waterproof – this even lasted during some teary episodes I’ve had in recent weeks. The formula provides impressive volume and length too, making this one of the best drugstore mascara offerings in my opinion.

Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Eyeliner – £2.99

I actually meant to buy the Fast Stroke liquid liner instead of this as I realised that was the one that had amazing reviews and not this, but this is quite good too. The felt tip like nib makes application quick and easy and the formula is impressively pigmented for only £2.99. However this does run and transfer on my watery eyes after only a few hours of wear meaning that I can’t commit to it being a new addition to my makeup bag, however for those who don’t experience sensitive/watery eyes, this is an absolute bargain.

Bourjois Contour Clubbing Eyeliner in ‘Up and Brown’ – £4.99

This is my new favourite pencil liner. I was actually going to try out one of the UD pencil liners as I’ve read really good reviews about those. Other drugstore liners that I have tried including the Soap and Glory Kohl liners ran and transferred on my eyes only an hour after application, meaning that I detest them. However this is amazing, it’s a golden brown shade that applies so easily and pairs perfectly with most eyeshadow looks and lasts all day on me without running! Hallelujah! My only gripe with this is that it fades after about 5-6 hours of wear and therefore needs a top up but this is easy enough to do so it isn’t a massive issue. 

Revlon Colorstay Normal/Dry Foundation in ‘Buff’ – £12.99

I’ve had this foundation for a month or so now and I’m still undecided but somehow I’ve continued to use it everyday. To me, this foundation is so matte as I always wear dewy foundations, however this is actually a satin finish and therefore it gets rid of shine but still brightens the complexion a little and doesn’t make the face look completely flat. The medium coverage gives me enough coverage to cover redness and blemishes but I still need concealer to cover my dark circles and spots as I do with most foundations. The issue I have with this is that the foundation claims to last 24 hours and I have tested this on a few 12 hour long work days now and I can safely say this always goes patchy on my cheeks and jawline at the 8/9 hour wear mark, meaning that I’m not sure this would last well for a night out (which I’m yet to try.) Although you’d get away with this for a school day or office shift, this needs a top up around 4/5pm when applied at 8am which may not suit everyone, but for the price this is an okay option due to its good coverage.

NYX Lip Lingerie in ‘Exotic’ – £6.50

Although I’d read mixed reviews about these, I was still desperate to try them ever since I published my Drugstore Beauty Wishlist. I actually quite like this dark rose, muted red/brown shade and I’ve used it a few times now. The formula is nice to apply and glides on the lips, then dries completely matte. I understand what other bloggers have meant by saying that it’s essential you exfoliate the lips with a scrub first as although the formula is very pigmented, they do show every crack and dry patch so it’s best to have smooth lips to start with. As for wear time, the shades I’ve tried (Exotic and Beauty Mark) both last a good few hours due to them being dark shades however as soon as you eat/drink this immediately becomes patchy and a touch up is definitely needed. However for wearing for shorter periods, for 3 hours say, without eating/drinking, or for longer periods where you are able to touch up when needed, these are a great, budget option.

What are your current beauty favourites?

Kathryn x

 

Latest Winter Beauty Buys

Hi all! I’m back after a long week of A-Level mock exams and I’m throwing all my energy into this post now that I’m up to date with my school work. I was going to do a what I got for Christmas/18th birthday post however seen as Christmas was over a month ago and my birthday was three weeks ago, it feels a bit late for that! Instead, I’ve compiled all the lovely beauty related gifts I received as well as those I bought myself between Boxing Day and now, which is a lot more than I initially thought. Anyways, I’m super grateful for all the lovely gifts that my amazing family and friends have bought me and just as a quick disclaimer as I’m not writing this post to brag, I’m writing to give my honest opinions on these products.

MAC Lipsticks in Twig and Diva – £15.50

Although I’ve rarely expressed my love of MAC lipsticks on my blog (I have no clue why!), they’ve always been a staple in my makeup bag and a product I can always trust, so I was delighted when I received Twig for Christmas and Diva for my birthday!  I’ve seen so many bloggers rave about the ‘Twig’ shade, but it was Jasmine Talks Beauty’s reviews that made me want to try it out the most. I was a little concerned that this lipstick would be too dark for me but I actually love it, it’s a dark dusky rose/pinky brown shade that looks lovely with the MAC Spice or Boldly Bare lip liners and lasts a pretty long time too and fades evenly. Diva is a shade I was desperate to try due to it having a dark, vampy red vibe and I was lacking a high end formula of this colour. I love the matte formula of MAC lipsticks, its creamy yet completely matte on the lips and lasts a really long time too, everything that you would hope for from a MAC Lipstick.

Morphe Brushes 12 Colour Magnetic Palette (£6.95) with Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pans in Shimma Shimma, Goddess, Homecoming, Roulette, Pocket Change and Bitten (L-R) (£6 each)

Since I tried my first MUG shadow in December, as I mentioned in my January Wishlist, I’ve been obsessed and it led me to order 5 more as well as a handy Morphe magnetic palette to house them in. The quality of these shadows is amazing; they are so pigmented and blend so easily and the quality is consistent throughout the different variations of shades too. My favourites are Shimma Shimma which is a light champagne colour, perfect for an everyday subtle makeup look or as an inner corner highlight with a smoky eye, and ‘Bitten’ which is a deep burgundy colour that looks amazing in the crease.

eBay Eyeshadow Brushes – £1.85

These brushes are an amazing Zoeva dupe and it was Makeup Savvy’s eBay roundups that led me to buy them. At only £1.85, these brushes are absolutely stunning and amazing quality for the price too, and definitely comparable to that of my Zoeva ones. Although they’re not quite as soft as Zoeva brushes, and they may not last as long, so far they have washed well and they enable me to do a smoky eye with ease.

Chloé Love Story Eau de Parfum – £47

Although I’m still in love with my Si by Armani and Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream fragrances, I wanted to find a more wearable everyday fragrance that was still floral but more subtle. I do like this scent, it’s floral yet sweet and it is nice for day to day wear because it’s pretty long lasting. It’s not comparable to either of my other fragrances in terms of being my favourite, but it’s nice and worth it’s expensive price tag.

Urban Decay Ultimate Mattes Eyeshadow – £38.50

I’ve had my eye on this beautiful palette for so long as I lack matte eyeshadows in my collection, so I was delighted when my wonderful friends got it me for my birthday. Extra Bitter which is a deep rust shade is my favourite to blend into the crease but I get use out of the all of them, particularly Commando, Instinct and Faith all over the lid as a subtle day time look.

NYX Lip Lingerie in ‘Exotic’ and ‘Beauty Mark’ – £6.50

I received both of these as gifts over the festive season and although the dusky rose Exotic shade is definitely my favourite, I’m going to give ‘Beauty Mark’ a chance and report back as it’s a tad bit outside my comfort zone with its deep brown shade.

Laura Mercier Flawless Contour Palette – £35

I had never tried cream contour products before receiving this palette for Christmas, only my NARS Contour Kit which is powder. I love how creamy and blendable this is although I’m not sure that the lighter and medium shades are dark enough once blended to create a sharp illusion of cheekbones. I’m going to need to try mixing the medium and deep shades to assess whether I think this contour kit really performs as it should. However I’m impressed by the highlight shades as they too have a creamy formula and although only the lightest shade suits my skin at the moment, I think the darker bronze highlight shade will suit me when I have a tan in the summer.

TheBalm Mary Lou Manizer – £20

I am so grateful to my sister for getting me this beauty. I’ve only really tried pink, icy toned highlighters before due to my pale complexion however this light golden shade is an absolute dream and I can imagine that this highlight works for a range of skin tones and it has a beautiful, finely milled blendable formula.

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in ‘Golden Light’ – £28.50

A good bronzer has been missing from my makeup collection for so long now since I became bored of my Soap and Glory solar powder. I’m so glad I opted for this Bobbi Brown pick, it’s a warm matte medium brown shade that adds depth and colour to my complexion to make me look like I’ve spent a week in the sun, when in reality I’m actually as pale as a ghost.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in ‘Cannes’ – £5.50

This is now my fourth NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream and I think this shade is actually my favourite. It’s a dusky rose shade and it pairs perfectly with so many of my lip liners and has the same lovely moussey formula as always.

Amazing Grace

Very Victoria

Red Carpet Red

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Mini Lipstick Charms – £29

I’ve wanted to try out a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick for some time now but at £23 a pop, I couldn’t choose which was my favourite shade and I couldn’t justify purchasing multiple shades. So when I saw this mini set as part of their Christmas gift range, I knew it had to be on my list! The set includes Amazing Grace, Very Victoria and Red Carpet Red, which are all really wearable shades for me and although I’ve had the most use out of Red Carpet Red for all my recent nights out, I know I’ll get use out of the other two shades as everyday shades too.

Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede Cologne – £43

I’ve wanted a Jo Malone cologne for so long as I have the Pomegranate Noir Candle and I love it so much. I opted for this floral scent as my favourite perfumes are always floral scents like Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream. This is definitely the most natural floral scent I own as it isn’t as sweet as my others, but I love it and I think it is going to be the best scent ever for Spring.

Makeup Revolution Contouring Precision Oval Makeup Brush Set – £19.99

I’ve wanted to try these for ages ever since I noticed the Mac ones on instagram as I mentioned in my Drugstore Beauty Wishlist post and I am so glad I put these on my Christmas list as they are copper and they coordinate perfectly with my Copper Zoeva brushes. The quality of them is amazing too, they blend seamlessly leaving no streaks as some brushes often do, and they wash well too without any fallout. For less than £7 a brush, these oval brush dupes are great quality and a good option if you want to try the trend but you’re on a budget.

 

 

Face Of The Day: Autumn Edition

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in ‘Mont Blanc’ – £31

Although this is my second bottle of this and I know I will repurchase it in future, I’ve had a real love/hate relationship with this foundation recently. In the past, I’ve absolutely loved this foundation and I even dedicated a post to it back in June.

However, I’ve had huge issues with my skin over the past few weeks as I’ve found that no matter how many times I cleanse, tone and moisturise, my skin will not clear up! I’ve been really spotty and my skin has gone from oily to dry in just a few weeks due to the change in the weather and this foundation has really helped me out due to its medium coverage. Although I have found that it’s dewy, glowy finish has sometimes highlighted my problem areas rather than conceal them and therefore I’m beginning to think that I need to invest in a different foundation for bad skin days and only use this when I have clear skin. However, for those days when my skin is good, this is an amazing foundation in terms of coverage and providing a lovely healthy, glowy finish.

NARS Contour Kit in ‘Paloma’ – £32

I’ve expressed my undecided thoughts on this contour kit many times before such as in my April Beauty Favourites post, but I’ve decided that I actually quite like it. Whilst I think the highlight shade is absolutely useless, I do think the contour shade does a great job of helping me create the illusion of sharp cheekbones and it does have impressive staying power as I’ve noticed that in pictures this lasts well even when the rest of my face is beginning to melt off!

Kiko Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush in ’01’- £7.90

This is definitely my favourite blush in my collection. The creamy formula is incredibly easy to blend out, both with your fingers and a brush and the lovely rose gold pink shade looks lovely with autumnal makeup as it isn’t too bright but still adds a nice touch of colour.

NARS Copocobana Illuminator – £23

I really love this illuminator and it wasn’t until I tried other highlighters that I truly appreciated how good this is. I usually apply this after my Contour and Blush to the top of my cheekbones and occasionally, I will add it under my eyebrows too with a pencil brush to add definition to my brows. This is incredibly easy to blend out and I find it works best when I apply it with my fingers. 

Kiko Eyeshadow in ‘118’ – £2.90

I’ve had this for ages and I haven’t put it to good use until recently. This is the perfect neutral golden shimmery eyeshadow and it looks lovely on its own with winged liner or with a dark brown shade in the crease.

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in ‘Sable’ – £17

This is a rediscovery of mine as I’ve had it for years but never really used it as I didn’t like it all over my lid but I’ve found it works perfectly in the crease, particularly with my Kiko eyeshadow or the ‘Dirtysweet’ shade from my Naked Smoky palette.

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette – £38

As I’ve previously expressed in posts such as my 5 New Beauty Favourites, this is my favourite eyeshadow palette as it is just so varied and there are so many eye looks I can create with it. I love using the ‘High’ shade with ‘Smolder’ shade to create an incredibly autumnal purple toned smoky eye, however I also love the ‘Dirtysweet’ shade with the Radar shade for a shimmery copper evening look that looks nice paired with a red lip.

Primark Rose Gold Eyelash Curlers – £1 (In Store)

I bought these months ago when I spotted them in Primark and thought they would be the perfect addition to my rose gold makeup brush collection, however I have only started using them daily recently. I never used to think that curling your eyelashes had a huge effect however I’ve noticed that it makes my eyes appear much more awake and my mascara seems to apply much more seamlessly, which is great when I have to put on a face of makeup at 7am most days.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in ‘Trooper’ – £16

This was actually a free sample as I mentioned in  my September Beauty Buys post however I will definitely be repurchasing this when it comes to an end. This eyeliner is definitely worth the hype it receives, it is SO pigmented and lasts so long without any smudges or fading. I’m not sure whether it’s waterproof, but it definitely hasn’t transferred on to my oily eyelids which is the norm for any other eyeliner I’ve tried before.

L’Oreal Voluminous Lashes – £8.49

I purchased this without doing my research before hand as I usually would, partially because of the lovely packaging (usually drugstore mascaras look so ugly), and partially because it claimed that it would lengthen lashes as well as add volume. I’ve been really happy with how easy this is to apply as I love that it is a brush applicator rather than a plastic one and it really does lengthen and volumise my lashes, however I have discovered that applying this to my bottom lashes has been slightly risky as it has often transferred and slid down my face leaving me with panda eyes by 10am (not a good look!) However, I’ve found that setting my concealer with my Mac Select Sheer Powder has prevented this and I’m sure this mascara would be perfect for anyone who doesn’t have watery eyes like myself!

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in ‘Copenhagen’ – £5.50

I have absolutely fallen in love with this deep berry lip shade and I have been wearing it at any opportunity I can! Unfortunately I forgot to photograph this when I was doing the photos for this post, however to read more about this and to see my pictures of it, have a read of my September Beauty Buys post.

September Beauty Buys

1. Makeup Revolution Palette in ‘Radiance’ – £8.00 

I had seen this on loads of blogposts and thought it was looked like such a lovely palette for such a low price. Although I knew this was a subtle highlight, I had expected more payoff from them as when I swatched the tester in store they appeared to be much more pigmented. This palette is okay for creating a subtle daytime highlight but to get a more intense highlight for evening wear, I find that it is best to apply this with a wet brush or layered over my NARS illuminator. However, for only £8, this is a great buy and is definitely one of the nicest high street palettes I’ve ever purchased.

2. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in ‘Copenhagen’- £5.50 

I absolutely adore the formula of these and after trying the ‘Istanbul’ shade in Spring (a bright baby pink shade), I was after a more autumnal colour. I know that dark plums and reds are such a typical lip colour for autumn but I have always been scared of dark lipsticks as I feared they wouldn’t suit me, but recently I have got really into bright, bold lipsticks and so I bought this on impulse and I actually love it. I am so excited to wear this with gold or copper toned eyeshadow and winged liner!

3. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in ‘Trooper’ – Free Sample (0.2ml) / £16 for full size (0.55ml)

I always buy drugstore eyeliners however I wanted to try out a high end formula to see how they compared. I know that people rave about this eyeliner and say it is one of the best high end eyeliners, so I  was delighted when I received this as a free sample when I bought a new Clarins Flash Balm from Debenhams a couple of weeks ago. I have only tried this once, however I was very impressed with the pigmentation and it is so easy to apply. The formula is really long lasting too and even after hours of wear, it hadn’t started to fade or run in the same way that drugstore formulas sometimes do. I will definitely be repurchasing this when I finish this tester and I look forward taking advantage of being able to now get hold of Kat Von D products in my local Debenhams!

4. Lush Mask Of Magnaminty – £6.25 for 125g

I have mentioned this in previous posts, including my Lush Oxford Street Haul (here) and my April Beauty Favourites (here). I was running dangerously low of this last month and when I visited Glasgow at the start of September, it was the first item I picked up in Lush and I’ve now realised how important this product is in my skincare regime. My skin has been so dry and dull recently, partially due to fatigue and stress, and also because I’ve not really taken great care of it since I came back from holiday at the end of August. Since repurchasing the mask, I’ve used it every week and my skin has become so much clearer and healthier. I can even see the effects of this mask straight after removing it which is why I love it so much. also, the scent is so heavenly, it smells exactly like mint tea! This is one of the best face masks out there and if you’re in Lush, I really encourage you to buy it and give it a go, you won’t regret it!

5. Bourjois Velvet Matte Lip in ‘Peach Club’ – £8.99

I have actually owned this for a while but I completely forgot about it until I saw it at the bottom of my lipstick stash a few weeks ago. I still have a love/hate relationship with bright shades of lipstick as I fear that they wash me out and don’t suit me but I have been trying to be a little braver lately, so I put this to the test when I went out for my friend’s birthday a couple of weeks ago. I was so impressed by how comfortable this is to wear as it doesn’t feel drying at all, and is SO long lasting. My friend couldn’t believe that this was a drugstore lipstick as she was wearing a Smashbox lipstick and this lasted just as long as hers, and for only £9, I think that’s pretty incredible. If you are looking for a mid-priced long-lasting matte lipstick, this is your call.

6. Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil in ’02 Light’ – Free Sample (0.11g) / £18.50 for full size (1g)

This is another free sample that I received in a magazine when Benefit re-launched their brow products a couple of months ago. I love this because of how easy and quick it makes tidying my brows up in the morning and is perfect for everyday makeup as it doesn’t look too ‘fake’ or bold. I also love that this shade is much lighter than my actual brows, as it is in shade 2 whereas typically I would be 4, meaning that I can use it for Sixth Form or other subtle makeup looks without looking like I have filled my brows in with loads of product. I’m definitely going to purchase this soon as I prefer it to my Rimmel pencil.

Which beauty products have you been loving throughout September?

Kathryn x

 

 

Beauty Wishlist – High End Edition – Autumn/Winter 2016

1) Anastasia Brow Wiz – £15.50 – I’m yet to find a brow product that I really love and after reading so many amazing reviews about this, I’m now desperate to try it! Currently I’m using a mix of drugstore pencils so I’d love to be able to see how they compare and find out if this is worth the extra £10.

2) BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette – £48 – This is the one product that all beauty bloggers seemed to have talked about lately in the ‘highlight world’ due to its recent release date. I’ve been after the Champagne Pop Highlighter for ages now, but when I saw this palette, I fell in love and the Prosecco pop shade and blush shades look really pretty too.

3) NARS Alhambra Eyeshadow Duo – £25 – I first saw this lovely duo on Kate La Vie’s blog and thought they would be perfect for me as I am obsessed with the ‘High?’ shade in my Urban Decay Smoky Palette and I’ve loved wearing a neutral, shimmery eye recently.

4) NARS Isolde Eyeshadow Duo – £25 – I think this duo is so perfect for an September makeup look as the copper-y toned shades suit Autumn so well. I also think copper and brown toned eyeshadows make my eyes pop the most so I think this would be the perfect duo for me for this time of year.

5) Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Primer – £38.50 – Much like brow products, I am yet to find a primer I love or would repurchase. I love the look of glowy, slightly dewy skin so I hate powders that make me look matte and cakey. Although I appreciate that applying powder helps to keep my makeup in place all day, I would much rather invest in a primer that will do the same job and also help me achieve the glowy skin look that I’m after and I am sure that this product lives up to its name.

6) NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in ‘Dragon Girl’ – £20 – Until I found the NYX matte Lipstick in ‘Indie Flick’, I was convinced red lipsticks didn’t suit me and weren’t exactly ‘wearable’. However I’ve heard so many bloggers and vloggers say that this is the perfect first red shade to try as it is brighter and less scarier than the darker, vampire ‘Cruella’ shade of the range.

7) Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour & Highlight – £19 each – My friend purchased these a few weeks ago and hasn’t stopped raving about them to me since. I love the concept of these as they make contouring seem so easy, all you do is draw the lines where you like and then simply blend out. I currently use the NARS Contour Kit and Illuminator and whilst I love my Copocobana highlight, I know that there must be better contour kits and products out there as I’m definitely not loving mine enough to buy it again.

8) Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in ‘Dazzled’ – £21 – This blush is completely different from any of those I own as it’s a dark, purple/mauvey toned shade unlike my usual bright pink shimmer that I would usually choose. I’ve heard amazing things about these blushers for so long and I almost forgot about them until I recently spotted this shade on a blog post I was reading. I think this shade would look so lovely during the autumn/winter season due to the slightly darker tone to it.

9) Too Faced Hangover Primer – £27 – This is another primer that I have wanted to try for so long due to its amazing reviews. Although I don’t suffer from dry skin and generally I don’t get many spots or blemishes, I do struggle to get a full days wear out of my makeup without using a primer as I have combination skin and a particularly oily t-zone. I would love to see whether this primer would extend the longevity of my makeup and keep my makeup looking much fresher throughout the day as other people have claimed it does.

10) Gerard Cosmetics Lipstick in ‘1995’- £9.50 – This shade is so gorgeous and looks like it would be the perfect summer to autumn transition lip colour. Although this is quite a reasonable price for a high-end lipstick, I do think it is a little too expensive to be counted as a drugstore lipstick and it isn’t easy to get hold of in UK drugstores.

11) Mac Lipstick in ‘Brave’ – £15.50 – This is so many people’s favourite Mac lipstick and I’d love to try it to see if it is worth the hype. This shade is right up my street as it is a pink toned nude shade and would look lovely with a gold shimmery eye; my staple everyday makeup look.

11) Estee Lauder Bronzed Goddess Bronzer- £33 – I have wanted to try this bronzer for years now as it seems to be one of those timeless beauty products that people mention again and again. Although I generally use bronzers more in the summer to try and attempt to give myself a ‘sunkissed glow’, I would like to get my hands on this before next summer comes by as I’d like to get a lot of use out of it due to its pretty big price tag.

12) Mac Warm Neutrals Eyeshadow Palette – £49.50 – I have a weakness for eyeshadow palettes and no matter how expensive they are, i just have to have it. This palette is no exception; it possesses all of my favourite shades as they are all warm-toned and therefore make my green eyes pop so much. I think the shimmery nudes and purple/burgundy shades in this palette would be so gorgeous for a winter smokey eye look.

13) Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in ‘Luminous Light’ – £40 – Although I am fairly happy with my Mac Select Sheer pressed powder, I am really keen to try this powder out to see if it is worth the hype and praise that it receives. Hourglass products have really been under the spotlight in the beauty blogger world lately, and seen as though I have never used any of their products, I think this would be the best place to start.

14) Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in ‘Bond Girl’ – £23 – I adore this lipstick every time I see it on Instagram and Bloglovin’ not only because of its gorgeous berry shade, but because it is so different from all the lip products I own and I think this would be so nice for the winter with neutral toned eye shadow and winged liner.

What products are on your high end wishlist?

Kathryn x

Latest Summer Beauty Buys

1) Barry M Nail Polishes in ‘Beach Keen’ (£3.99 – Boots Exclusive) and ‘Bikini’ (£4.99)

My favourite drugstore nail polishes have always been Essie, however after reading so many good reviews about Barry M’s polishes and their amazingly cheap price, I decided to give them a go. ‘Beach Keen’ is a gorgeous blush colour, perfect for an effortless yet chic nail look and ‘Bikini’ is a lovely duck egg blue that feels very summery and the coconut oil helps strengthen nails, perfect for me as I’ve chewed them quite a lot recently!

2) Topshop Chameleon Highlighter in ‘Mother of Pearl’ – £12.50

I actually bought this by mistake as I was after the ‘Crescent Moon’ highlighter, but I mixed up the names! I’m not yet sure if I like this highlighter, the colour is best described as a rose-gold mystic shade and is the perfect highlighter for festivals or paired with a neutral eye look and bold lip. However as far as everyday wear goes, I personally don’t think I’ll be reaching for it much seen as it is a little too pink-toned for me and I prefer a more gold-toned highlight.

3) Revlon Ultra Matte HD Lip Colour in ‘Flirtation’ – £8.99

This is actually one of my favourite new finds of this year as it is a comfortable, highly pigmented and matte lip product that is worth every penny. I’m also very pleased that I picked this shade as it is a perfect bright pink/dark coral that helps create the perfect bold lip look for summer and looks lovely when paired with neutral toned eyeshadow and winged liner.

4) Kiko Long-Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in ’05 Rosy Brown’ and ’06 Golden Brown’ – £6.90 each

I’ve wanted to try out the ’06’ shade of this eyeshadow stick for almost a year now, however every time I visited my local Kiko store it was always out of stock. Therefore when I stopped by a couple of weeks ago, I was thrilled when I realised they had it in. It is a lovely shimmery brown shade that looks stunning all over the lid with a lighter, gold shade on top to lighten the corners. I also picked up the ’05’ shade which is also a shimmery formula but is more of a dark purple shade than brown. This also looks lovely with a light gold shade, but also works well with a lighter purple shade such as the NYX Eyeshadow in ‘Damage Control’.

5) Kiko Ultra Glossy Stylo SPF 15 in ‘803 Pink Flamingo’ – £4.90

I picked this up on impulse as I spotted it was in the sale and thought it would be perfect for wearing during the day on holiday as it contains SPF unlike any of my other lip products. I’m also pleasantly surprised with the shade of this and the pigmentation as I expected it to be quite a sheer balm, however it is actually a nice shade of pink and adds the perfect amount of colour for light, fuss-free holiday makeup and protects your lips at the same time!

6) ESPA Restorative Bath Oil – £29.00

I received this for my birthday back in January and completely forgot I had it as it was part of a gift set shoved at the back of my drawer. I then rediscovered it a few weeks ago when I was searching for bath products that I could add to my usual cocktail of bubble bath and after giving it a go with some bath salts and bubbles, I was immediately sold and haven’t had a bath without it since. I genuinely believe its claims to ‘quiet anxiety and calm nerves’ as its mix of ingredients including lavender help to fully relax me after a particularly stressful and busy day.

7) Rose Gold Eyelash Curlers – £1.00

I fell in love with these as soon as I spotted them in the beauty section of Primark. They go perfectly with my rose gold Zoeva brushes and as I was in need of new eyelash curlers anyway, they were a total steal!

What beauty products have you purchased and loved recently?

Kathryn x

 

July Favourites

Hi there!

Although I feel like July has wizzed by, I have actually bought and loved a lot of things this month that I thought I’d share, so here goes:

Beauty:

1) Revlon Matte Balm in ‘225 Enchanting’ – £7.99

This is my new holy grail matte lip product. It is moisturising, highly pigmented and best of all; doesn’t feel drying at all which is something I always experience with every matte product, drugstore or high end. For a high street product with such an affordable price tag, I was amazed by this product and I am definitely going to be purchasing this in more shades.

2) MAC Lip Pencils in ‘Boldly Bare’ and ‘Spice’ – £13.00

I actually purchased these back in April when I visited Mac Cosmetics at Covent garden, however I only really used them to line my lips and only recently have I used them as a lip product alone. Although they can feel quite drying, I love the colour and matte effect they give, and they do last a really long time before needing a top up.

3) NYX Proof It! Eyeshadow Primer – £5.50

I have been meaning to buy an eyeshadow primer for the longest time as I have really oily eylids and my eyeshadow always creases. I spotted this on the NYX counter in boots and thought it looked like a pretty similar dupe to NARS’ eyeshadow base (which I am desperate to try!)  It performs exactly as I had hoped; it keeps my eyeshadow in place all day without any smudges, and also makes my eyeshadow look more pigmented.

4) Lush Celestial Moisturiser – £14.95

This moisturiser just continues to impress me every time I use it. The almond-based product hydrates and clears my skin as well as leaving it feeling super soft. Prior to my discovery of this product, other moisturisers made no difference to my skin, and sometimes even made it worse by causing me to break out, and therefore this has become both my ultimate favourite skincare product and favourite lush product. I would recommend this moisturiser to people with sensitive and combination skin like myself as it is gentle on the skin and helps to reduce oil whilst hydrating drier areas, which makes it  suitable for those who experience dry skin too.

Accessories:

6) H&M Sunglasses – £6.99 (In Store Only)

I have been after a pair of sunglasses like these for a while as the other pairs of sunglasses I own are quite boring and so I wanted a pair that were a little fancier. These are perfect and exactly what I was looking for; they are a cat-eye shape, a funky print, yet still look slightly chic. Overall, these were a great find!

7) Topshop Rings (No longer available)

I have been meaning to buy some sterling silver or gold rings for ages now, but in the meantime, these caught my eye in topshop and I couldn’t resist. This set of three gold rings look nice with any nail colour, and for only £8, I think they are a great addition to any outfit.

TV/Books:

8) Orange Is The New Black on Netflix

I have loved this show ever since the release of Season 2, when I decided to jump on the bandwagon and find out what I was missing out on. I became hooked instantly, and with the release of Season 4 in June, I haven’t stopped watching the new episodes at any free moment I have! If you aren’t watching this show already, I strongly suggest you do, its amazing.

9) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix

I’ll admit that when I first started watching this show, I wasn’t sure I understood it or that I liked it, however after giving it a chance and watching a few episodes, I absolutely loved it and was laughing out loud. This has to be my favourite comedy on Netflix and Titus just makes the entire show, let’s be honest.

10) The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

I bought this book months ago but I completely forgot about it until I spotted it on my bookshelf at the beginning of July. I was hooked from the first page with this book, its so intriguing and once I start reading, I find it so difficult to put down. I cannot wait to reach the ending however I’m not sure I want to finish it, I love it too much!

What have you been loving this month?

Kathryn x

5 Foundations – Tried and Tested

1) NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in ‘Mont Blanc’ – £31

Although I am now running low of this, I absolutely love this foundation and how easy it is to blend and the dewy, healthy glow it gives. Despite the lightweight formula, the foundation provides medium coverage and lasts all day, however as a self-confessed serial face toucher, it sometimes looks patchy if I accidently rub or touch my face during the day. Using a powder helps to prevent this and it still looks radiant, however, personally, I prefer the finish without powder. My only other criticism would be that I dislike the lid as it doesn’t fit properly (something I know other bloggers have mentioned before) and the fact you have to purchase a separate foundation pump *rolls eyes*. Although if you have normal to dry skin and like a natural, healthy, glowy finish, this foundation will be perfect for you.

2) MAC Mineralise Moisture Foundation SPF 15 in ‘NW15’ – £29

I haven’t actually used this in a while, but it is very similar to NARS sheer glow. The finish is super dewy and brightening, which is amazing when you haven’t had much sleep! The coverage is much lighter than NARS foundation and I found it to be a little difficult to build up, which isn’t ideal after a break out and therefore requires very high coverage concealer underneath. In terms of packaging, I love the matte finish on the bottle and that the pump is built in to the lid (take note NARS!) however it isn’t the best design for travel due to my over-paranoia that my foundation will leak all over my makeup bag. However this is an amazing lightweight, brightening formula especially if you have dry skin or for the winter season.

3) Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation in ‘Porcelain’ – £32.50

I purchased this on impulse in John Lewis after running out of my MAC Mineralise and I just wanted a foundation with a little heavier coverage. Although it provides medium to full coverage and lives up to its ‘Long-Wear’ name, it isn’t anywhere near as dewy as the NARS or MAC formulas and provides more of a matte finish rather than brightening. I think this foundation is perfect for those who prefer a medium coverage, matte finish however personally I prefer a more luminous look.

Without Flash

With Flash

4) MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation in ‘NC25’ – £26

This is my go to ‘after fake-tanning foundation’ as it is two shades darker than my natural skin tone and therefore is usually the perfect match after I’ve tanned or been on holiday.  However, I will admit this foundation is my least favourite of the bunch. The formula is much thicker and provides much higher coverage than any of the others, which I find makes it difficult to blend and sometimes, looks cakey if you use too much. This foundation would be great for those who like high coverage foundations as it does cover up all imperfections and it does last all day long, however I dislike the slightly matte finish and the lack of glow it gives.

5) L’Oreal Paris Lumi Magnique Foundation in ‘Rose Pearl’ – £10.99

Despite this foundation being the cheapest out of those I own, it is actually my current favourite. I have read many reviews that say that this is the drugstore dupe of  NARS Sheer Glow Foundation which I can understand as it is dewy and glowy,  however I actually think it is more reminiscent of MAC Mineralise. It provides a much lighter coverage than NARS’ however it gives the same radiating glow and natural look that both the more expensive NARS and Mac ones do. My only criticism would be that this foundation sets pretty quickly and therefore if you aren’t quick to blend it, it can look patchy and require further application (such a pain when you are in a rush!) The packaging is also not as nice and lower quality than its rivals however for £20 cheaper, it isn’t bad. All in all, this is a great drugstore dupe and an amazing product for the price.

What is your favourite foundation?

Kathryn x

Brand Focus: NYX Haul & Product Review

1) NYX Liquid Black Liner – £5.50

After my Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner started to dry out, I decided it was time to try a new eyeliner. When I visited the new NYX counter in my local boots, I decided to try this one out due to its reasonable price. I’ve been very impressed by it so far, it’s easy to use, has high pigmentation and stays all day without transferring to my eyelids, an issue I’ve had with other drugstore liquid eyeliners before. I’m very impressed!

2) NYX Eyeshadows in ‘Addiction‘ and ‘Damage Control‘ – £3.50 each

These were a little bit of an impulse buy, I spotted them and just couldn’t resist, especially when they are such a good price. I definitely did not need any more eyeshadow but I’m glad I picked these up, they are amazing! They are extremely pigmented, easy to blend, look stunning and last all day without a primer and don’t crease. They perform exactly as a good eyeshadow should!

3) NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in ‘Istanbul’ – £5.50

This was my first NYX product that I purchased just after NYX counters arrived in UK boots stores . I’ve read so many amazing reviews about these and so I was curious to see if it lived up to my expectations and whether I would personally like the product as I am not necessarily a huge fan of matte lipsticks due to them usually being drying. However this product is completely different, it is creamy, pigmented and comfortable to wear, yet still dries as a matte finish. I also love this shade and think it is absolutely perfect for summer!

4) NYX Matte Lipstick in ‘Indie Flick’ – £6.50

I’ve been wanting to try a orange toned red lipstick for a few weeks now as I’m very much aware that dark toned reds don’t suit me at all and I wanted to try something a little brighter and more summery. The shade ‘indie flick’ is exactly what I was looking for; a matte tangerine toned red that is bold yet not blinding! The lipstick applies easily and lasts a good few hours before it begins to fade. I also think that this shade suits me much better than other red lipsticks I have tried.

(Top: Istanbul, Middle: Life’s A Beach, Bottom: Indie Flick)

 5) NYX Liquid Suede in ‘Life’s A Beach’ – £6.50

This product is a huge step outside of my comfort zone as far as lipsticks go as I would never choose to wear a shade this bright usually. However after I saw Kate La Vie rocking it in her Drugstore Makeup Tutorial, I decided to give it a go. I love the formula of this product, it applies so smoothly and looks exactly as it does in the tube. Although they aren’t quite as comfortable to wear as the soft matte lip creams, and they are slightly more drying, I do believe this is excusable due to its amazing staying power. I am still undecided as to whether this shade suits me, however I think I might like it more when I have a tan and wear it on holiday in the evening. However, overall, this is a great product for the price and I’m sure I’d love it even more if I purchase it in a more everyday, wearable shade.

Have you tried any NYX products? If so, what are your favourites?

Kathryn x