2014 Beauty Discoveries

Hello everyone,

Well I didn't really know what I wanted to talk about for blogmas today, but I got an idea of Anna's recent blog post (link), and thought what a brilliant idea it is. This means I am going to show you my favourite beauty discoveries of 2014, they are different to what I mentioned in my overall 2014 favourites, and their are 5!

My top 5 beauty discoveries of 2014...

Their would have been many more favourites but I didn't want to repeat myself through these two 2014 favourites posts. I would have mentioned more in this but some were already mentioned in my last post.

I am going to start off with my favourite beauty discoveries which is the Tarte amazonian clay blush, this is in the colour doll face. This is a beautiful soft matte pink, this is very wearable during any month and great for a everyday blush. But you can wear this during the evening if you was to pair it with a highlighter, like Mac's soft and gentle.

While I am on the topics of blush I will carry on with my second one, this is the Topshop cream blush in Illicit, I have tried their blush in head over hells and is less wearable. But this is a wearable brown/coral, which has some slight shimmer, perfect for the warmer months.

Onto powder, this is something I got in a set from Bare Minerals, and this is the bare minerals mineral veil. I was too sure what to make of this at the start, but I have turned out to love it. This is the original one and is great for making yourself look more awake, this is a very fine powder while being loose, you can dust this over your skin look more glowing. While it isn't the most travel friendly, because it's loose it does really make a difference and is worth the hassle in the morning without it flying every where.

I couldn't go without mentioning this lipstick from Mac, this is creme cup in the picture, but released I talked about that in my last post. But I am going to talk about this and Angel, Creme Cup is a great your lips but better colour, where as Angel in still wearable but has more pink in the colour. It all depends what you prefer, pink then Angel or coral/nude then Creme cup.

Lastly onto a hair care product, this is the Dove Oxygen Moisture root lift spray. I heard Amelia Liana mention this in a video/blog post and said it was amazing. And long story short I agree with that comment, I have fine hair that hasn't got the best volume at times, but this changes that. It makes my hair look full and bouncy; I spray this into the roots of damp hair, then blow-dry it or let it dry naturally; I get the same outcome and it looks like I am have paid £50 for a professional blow dry.

What are your little beauty gems you have discovered this year? Comment below!

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Contouring and Bronzing

Hello everyone,

I have another beauty 101, I really enjoyed doing my last one because I love sharing my beauty knowledge with you. I am going to do this one of contouring and bronzing, everything from the products to the tools. I am also going to one of these 101's on highlighting because they comes into contouring a lot. Just for reference I am a NC15 from Mac.

Contouring is when your bring out and essentially hiding your features. This is a very clever art of defining the places you want to essencuate, when your contouring your making 'shadows' to define or create cheek bones for example. Bronzing is as simple as adding colour to your face, this is mainly to make you look more bronzed and to give you that healthy glow.

Link

The image above shows where are the best places to contour and highlight. You should start off by doing the 'fish face' this is where you suck in your cheeks, this reveals where your cheek bones our, you should then contour in that area. Also on your temples, cheek bones and jaw line are in a 3 sort of shape, this is the main places to contour. Going down the sides of the nose gives the illusion of a thinner nose, contouring your cheek bones gives you well defined cheek bones, also contour above and below your collar bones, can give the illusion of collar bones. Also you need to contour around your hair line to make your face match your head basically. Lastly contour down your neck just makes your face match the rest of you body, without leaving any harsh lines. 

The Products

Starting off with my all time favourite product for contouring, I use the Benefit Hoola Boxed Powder, this is a matte bronze colour, this is perfect for getting a defined but not muddy definition to the face. The best thing about this product is that you only need a little bit, but it's very build able.

My other high end favouirte, the one everyone knows which is Nars Laguna Bronzer. This is a tiny bit deeper in colour then the Benefit one, but it works nicely for pale skin. With this I reccomend to go much lighter with this, a duo fiber brush would be perfect with this.

A drugstore classic which is the Bourjois Bronzing Power, this smells amazing (Like chocolate if you can't already guess. Colour wise this is a tiny bit more 'muddy' but very wearable, this isn't the best for really pale skin, but you need to build this up more because the pigment isn't very strong. I would use this more for bronzing the face because of the colour, this would give pale skin people more of a natural glow rather than a defined contour.

Something different, which is a loose powder. Bare Minerals are known for their loose, mineral products this is the power in warmth. This is very dark compared to others I have mentioned, this is more pigmented aswell a little goes a very long way. This is more of a bronzer because it is too dark of a contour for me.

Another drugstore cult favouirte is the Sleek Face Contour kit, I have the shade light for obvious reasons. This is a lovely colour for contouring, one of the best contour products on the high street market. The colour is perfect because this kit comes in light, medium and dark. This is like the Nars Laguna were you need a light hand.

Something quite different than all the others, and the cheapest of the bunch. The ELF Golden bronzer is more for the people how like a little shimmer to their bronzer. This looks lovely for bronzing very lightly, but also very nice as a highlight.

Swatches 

Left to right - ELF Golden Bronzer, Nars Laguna, Bourjois Bronzing Powder, Sleek Face contour kit, Hoola Bronzer and Bare Minerals powder (Warmth).

Contouring and Bronzing tools

Contouring - For contouring I love a very precise brush, something that is going to place it where it needs to go. The Real Techniques contour brush is perfect for this, small enough to fit in the hollows of you cheeks and around your nose. Then I also prefer something that is duo fiber, the Real  Techniques Duo Fiber Face Brush is great because it doesn't apply too much product, but it's small enough for a contour.

Bronzing - When I am bronzing I prefer something that is much bigger to fit around the face. the Real Techniques Blush brush is very nice because the point applys the product, and the outside blends it very nice. The other one is the Bare Minerals Flawless Face Brush, this just applys product very nicely and just the right amount.

What are your favourite bronzing and contouring products? Comment below

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Daily Beauty Essentials

Hello everyone,

On a daily basis we all have them product we use everyday to complete a makeup look. I thought I would share these products with you, I wear them everyday and especially to school. 

I'm going to start off with face, what ever foundation I use I set it with the Bare Minerals Original Mineral Veil, I apply this last on to my T-zone, this creates a very nice healthy natural 'glow' without looking over the top. This may be on the pricey side of life but you use a tiny amount and it will last forever. This is a staple for me because if your having a rubbish or good skin day this will make you look awake and perfected. Ever since I brought the Benefit Gimme Brow (Light) I have used it ever since, I over looked this product a bit but decided to go for the plunge. I am so glad I did this fills your brows in amazingly, on it's own or layered it will look perfect. I love this for every day because it looks very natural but yet defined and it is so quick to use, and it looks as if you have spent an hour on your brows. A makeup look isn't complete without lippies, I have my favourite lip balm from Palmers always to hand, in my blazer pocket or hand bag this goes every where with me. It makes your lips feel super soft and moisturised, also this doesn't look over the top under lipsticks either. Moving swiftly on to lipsticks, I have found the perfect lip combination pair for everyday. my lipstick of choice is the Mac Cremesheen in Creme Cup, this is a pink nude which is a your lips but better colour, I apply this first then use the Revlon Colourburst Lacquer Balm on top in Demure, this is just like the mac lipstick but shiny, this looks perfect applied on top for a shine without being glossy; great for everyday! 

What are your daily beauty essentials? Comment below

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My Going Out Makeup Look

Hello everyone,

I am going out this evening for a party and I have decided on a long lasting, flawless makeup look and thought I would share it with you. This is a great makeup look because it can be changed very quickly because its very natural, I have gone for a natural base, bold brows and lips; you can adapt this to how you like to wear your makeup.

My first step to a flawless base and a long lasting one is a primer, I have been loving the Bourjois Health Mix Matte Serum Primer, this is the best at giving you glowy but matte skin, it's very light and drys very quickly. For a flawless base I go for  medium to full coverage, to achieve this I use the Mac Studio Fix Fluid foundation and to go along with that they Mac Studio Finish concealer to hide blemishes. Under the eyes I go for a light coverage to brighten them up, for this I use the Garnier Anti-dark circle roll on, this is quite light but not too light, this brightens your eyes but doesn't cover them fully. I love to contour and especially when I am going out, I go a tad bit stronger. I love the Benefit Hoola Broner this adds great definition and ins't orange, to go along with that I go for a light pink blush and this is Benefit Dandelion. But you also have to go for a highlight I use the Mac MSF in Lightscapade, I use this when I am going for a shimmery blush. Moving swiftly onto eyes, I prime with the Mac Paintpot in Painterly. I go for natural eyes when I am having a bold lip and brows, this is the Stila Written In The Stars Palette, (I have marked the colours I use in the picture), a shimmery champagne for the inner corners and brow highlight, the colour next to it to lightly define the crease, with a darker chocolate brows in the outer V and on the top lash line, and smoked out on the bottom lash line. My ultimate mascara is benefit They're Real for a long lash effect with volume. Onto Brows I use my Benefit Brow Zings eyebrow kit to define my brows, this frames your face a lot! Onto lips I start off with a lip scrub (normally Lush Popcorn lip scrub), followed by the Nuxe Reve De Miel lip balm. I said I am going for a bold lip I have two options here and they are the Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayons in Orange Punch and Plum Russian. I finish with the Bare Minerals Mineral Veil over the face then the NYX Matte Setting Spray to keep everything in place. 

What is your going out makeup look? Comment below

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August Favourites 2014

Hello everyone,

I have a monthly favourites post! I haven't done one of these in ages but just haven't felt as if their was a lot to show. But I can't believe we are in September already, this year is going so quick. 

Where do I start...

When I was on the plane going to Turkey I brought a new perfume, which is Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Delight. This is a very summery scent, I would describe it was a fruity floral, with top notes of Raspberry, Grapefruit and Pear. This is a perfect day scent.

On holiday their was only one blush and bronzer I was using, these are the Benefit Rocakteur and Hoola Boxed Powders, these are just perfect the blush gives you a natural rose gold flush, and Hoola gives you a lovely defined contour but natural, also good for all over bronzing. 

The Sleek Matte Me in Petal, has been my go to lip product ever since I got it. This is the perfect light pink matte lip cream, this stays on for a good time and just look great.

Moving onto brows, I have been starting off using the Anastasia Brow Wiz to fill in my brows before I use my Brow Zings. This just makes your brows looks very defined and lovely. Then to highlight I have been using the Benefit High Brow Glow on the brow bone, one word perfect!

I have had this sample for a few months now but never really used it. This is Benefit's It's Potent eye cream, this is very moisturizing and rich for under the eyes, I use this morning and night and sits lovely under makeup.

On holiday I was wearing eye shadow a lot more, and for this I was using the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette. I have been really liking this for a very natural eye, perfect for everyday. I have been wearing Venus all over the eye, Naked 2 in the crease and Faint in the outer V, also using Venus to highlight. So many options to choose from.

After sun is key when on holiday, and the Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Body Butter is amazing. It's rich and creamy without being too thick not to rub in. But this smells amazing and really hydrates your skin.

I have a great combination here, this is the Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, but to make it a light coverage I have been mixing the Nivea Light Moisturiser Day cream with it. This is just perfect together, very natural and light on the skin. If your wondering I add a decent amount to cover my face of the foundation, then I add a sweetcorn size amount of moisturiser and mix together.

Going back to scents, I have been wearing the Victoria's Secret Endless Love body spray a lot, I love throwing it in my bag and topping up during the day. It just smells amazing, I would definitely reccomend this.

A primer I have been using quite a lot if the Bare Minerals Prime Time face primer, this just makes my skin feel really soft and makes putting my makeup on look nicer and last longer aswell.

You know how much I love the Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula lip balm (Original), it's great makes your lips so smooth and hydrated and it's just amazing, but very cheap aswell.

In Turkey it was very hot, and the Avene Thermal Spring Water was a life savoir! This is a really fine mist that is just amazing for cooling yourself down, I also have the mini one for my handbag, this takes a few seconds to dry but that's it.

I have a hair favourite, this is the Dove Style + Care Serum, you can apply this onto damp or dry hair, and it hydrates your ends a lot. When I was in Turkey I was using this everyday and my hair was very hydrated for a hot climate. This is just very good and you only need a little bit, so it will last you forever.

Food and Drinks//

- Fizzy Watermelon sweets
- Lemon and Sugar Pancakes
- Watermelon
- Chicken and Bacon salads
- Vanilla Milkshakes
- Fanta Icy Lemon

What's happened//

- I went to Turkey
- I had stitches
- I got my GCSE results - A in Business! yayy

August 2014 in pictures -

I saved £100/ All packed for Turkey/ On the plane/

Stitches!/ Five Guys/ Fortune Cookie/ Aidan, Ellie and I in Turkey/

Music//

Taylor Swift - Shake It Off

David Guetta - Lovers Of The Sun

Iggy Azalea ft Rita Ora - Black Widow

Random//

One of my biggest favourites of August was the MTV VMA's! Can I just say how amazing Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora was preforming Black Widow. Also Taylor Swift, her performance of Shake It Off was so good and quite funny. But the biggest stand out for me was Miley Cyrus, she done the nicest thing letting this man collect an award for Miley but also share his story about being homeless, and Miley crying topped it for me.

Also I finished the book The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime, this is a book by Mark Haddon. I love this book I have read it twice now and I just love it because it's such an easy read. Also I an nearly finished with The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.

What I am looking forward to -

In September their is always a lot of birthdays, and that makes me really excited because one of them is a 60th Birthday Party aswell as a meal. Also I am quite excited to be in my final school year, because after year 11 you can go to a different school to do A level etc. But I am really excited for my birthday in December, because I am getting a Macbook Pro, and I am 16!

Favourite People -

- Iggy Azalea
- Lucy and Lydia - Their youtube channel is amazing (Link)
- Suzie/ Hello October (Blog and Youtube)

That is everything I have been loving for August! What have you been loving? Comment below

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