The Cost Of My Daily Makeup

Hello everyone,

I have been looking at blog post ideas lately, and came across a post about how much you everyday makeup costs, this is going to be interesting to see how much my daily makeup is, but good for you to see what my makeup consist of on a daily basis.

The makeup -

Estee Lauder double wear foundation - £30

NYX HD concealer - £5.50

Nars radiant creamy concealer - £22.50

Clinique contour chubby stick - £19

NYX born to glow highlighter - £7

MAC mineralise skin finish natural - £24

Benefit Hoola - £23.50

The Balm tro luminisers - £24

Mac Mocha blush - £18.50

Mac painterly painterly pot - £16

Naked 2 palette - £38.50

L'oreal So couture liner - around £7

Benefit Rollerlash - £19.50

Anastasia dip brow pomade - £15

NYX tinted brow mascara - £5.50

Palmers lip balm - £1.99

Mac Lip pencil - £12.50

Mac lipstick - £15.50

Total cost of my daily makeup - £305.49

I am shocked at how much my makeup comes to cost wise, £300 is a lot of money writing it down it doesn't seem a lot of products I used. But putting it into perspective I am not surprised by the amount of products I use when I am doing my makeup for the day! 

This was surprising  but interesting to see. How much does your daily makeup cost?

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NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams

Hello everyone,

Today I found out that NYX was in my local boots, it's been on the Boots website for a while now but we have a stand finally in the shop! I scanned to see what they had and decided to opt for the soft matte lip creams, as I need to try these as I have been getting a lot more into a matte liquid lipstick. These lip creams retail for £5.50, which I think is a very reasonable price and come in a variety of shades from a very nude to a red and everything in between! (£5.50 - link)

Left - 14 Zurich 

Right - 19 Cannes

Looking over at the soft matte lip creams and I have to say some of the colours that were out as testers just seemed either too nude like the classic old concealer lips look, which I am not a massive fan of, or the dark vampy look which isn't my thing as the weather is getting warmed! I knew I wanted to go for a "nude" as I can get more wear out of them and then get a full review.

Left - 14 Zurich 

Right - 19 Cannes

These are very creams as the name suggests from a first impressions, and they smell devine! Very sweet and cake like but I have a sweet tooth, so it doesn't bother me! The colour Zurich is a muted pink/rose shade, where as Cannes is more of a darker pink nude. They have a dofer applicator which is the best for these types of lip products, but the wand isn't too long that you don't have control over it, they are the perfect size and length. 

 Top - 19 Cannes

Bottom - 14 Zurich

As you can see from the swatches above they are very pigments and don't need many coats what so ever! I am interested to see how quickly these take to dry, how long they last and how they fade during the day! I have high hopes for these are the whole of youtube and beauty bloggers have spoken about these, I have tried the NYX butter gloss which are beautiful!

The next shades that are on my list are - Abu Dhabi, Stockholm and I would love to try Morocco!

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College makeup bag

Hello everyone,

I am going to talk you through everything that I have in my makeup bag, this is just the things that I take to college with me or things I have with me on a daily basis. The makeup bag I have is from Cath Kidston (similar here) as they do the cutest makeup bags, which are the perfect size as well. 

What's in my makeup bag:

Mac Mineralise skinfinish - Light plus

Powder brush

Benefit Erase Paste - Fair

Real Techniques contour brush

EOS Lip balm - Summer fruit

KIKO smart lip pencil - 712

KIKO smooth temptation lipstick - 06

Mac lip pencil - Spice

Mac lipstick - Velvet Teddy

Bobbi Brown cream lip colour - 7 Rose petal

Urban Decay lipstick - Rush

Mac lipstick - Myth

Sleek matte me - Birthday suit 

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Recent makeup buys

Hello everyone,

I have a beauty haul for you today, I thought I would some of the bits I have been picking up recently considering I haven't done a haul in ages! I have been buying a lot lately, especially clothing pieces but I may share that with you another time!

The first and the most exciting thing I have picked up is the Sleek Cream Contour Kit in light, yes you read that right! Their are now cream contour kit that are comparable to the ABH one, this was £10.99 and I am just so excited to use it! Hopefully I can get some nice contouring and highlighting going on, especially with the 6 different shades! I have read a couple of review about this and they all seem positive so far! (£10.99 - link)

My friend and I were both trying to decide the best way to applying this contour kit, then we came across this foundation and concealer brush from Primark, we thought we'd give it a go as it looks like the perfect shape for getting a good contour and highlight. This brush is only £1.50 so if it's rubbish it's not big loss! The the second brush I have been dying to true is the Real Techniques setting brush, as this is going to be great for a whole host of things from powder to potentially concealer and more!(£1.50 & £6.99 - link)

I have wanted to try this foundation for ages now as everyone seems to go on about this! I have gone to Estee Lauder counters to get testers and colour matched, and on pay day I said f**k it and just brought it! I got the shade 1CO Shell, and is a perfect match! I have to say getting new high end foundations is the best, but even foundations in general for that matter! The best thing about this foundation is the range of shades, but the fact that this is meant to be more or less suitable for everyone! (£30.00 - link)

Lately I have been getting real paranoid over my pores, blackheads and just skin in general. I have seen lots of reviews on the blackhead charcoal masks, so I decided while boots were having a 3 for 2, that I would pick this up to begin with which is the Boots tea tree witch hazel 2 step nose pore strips,! I am so excited to try this as it's got two different steps which are meant to help with blackhead and pores, so hopefully this works! (£5.99 - link)

The last two things that I got from the 3 for 2, is the Tea Tree witch hazel nose pore strips, this is that I wanted from boots before I got sucked into the deals. I have had these before and were good, but I need to try it again for my overall opinion. Lastly I got the Tea tree witch hazel charcoal facial mask, as I am hoping this is going to benefit my skin overall, but we shall see how I get on! (£4.99 & £3.59 - link and link)

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The makeup brush guide

Hello everyone,

I have a guide post for you which is going to be all about makeup brushes, I think I want to make this a regular thing now and then talking to you about anything beauty retailed, and my guide to the perfect products for beginners etc. This one is going to be all about makeup brushes that are just perfect for you to complete a full face of makeup!

The Foundation Brush -

The foundation brush that I swear by and always have since the day I bought this is the, Real Techniques Buffing brush which you can find in the core collection set. The buffing brush has synthetic bristles which makes it perfect for building up coverage, and is great for any type of foundation from liquid to mineral, this will give you a natural look which can be builded. This makes applying foundation so quick and easy, but it doesn't take it streaky or uneven. This set is a great one but this is by far the best brush it in. (£21.99 - link)

The Makeup Sponge - 

Makeup sponges are something that I have vernally turned my nose up because it just reminds me too much of them triangle ones, that just collect all the foundation instead of applying it. But the Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge is unlike no other! This is a unique one because of the shape of it, this has a rounded which is perfect for larger areas of the face and quicker application, where I use a dabbing motion, then the tip of this is great for the smaller areas, for example under your eyes and covering imperfections and lastly you've got the flat side which is great for around your nose and eyes. This sponge is best used damp, ideally use cold water and keep squeezing out the excess water for perfect application. (£5.99 - link)

The Concealer Brush -

When it comes to concealer I chop and change between two, the first one is the Real Techniques contour brush, which you can also find in the core collection kit. This brush is perfect for around your eyes and nose especially, because of the smaller size but it's tapered and applies the product while blending it at the same time. When it comes to blemishes the Real Techniques deluxe crease brush which is available in the starter set, this is a good one as it's denser and smaller, this is great for redness around the centre of the face but is great for pin pointing concealer, this blend the concealer while applying it in specific areas. (£21.99 and £20.99 - link and link)

The Powder Brush -

I'm not too fussy when it comes to powder brushes then some people are, but the one I go back to all the time is the EcoTools powder brush, this is an affordable brush but makes applying powder quick and easy as it cover the face but isn't so big that you have no control over this. This is a soft brush and is perfect for any type of foundation from pressed to loose, it applies the powder evenly and gives a smooth finish to the skin.(£9.99 - link)

The Blusher Brush -

Finding the perfect powder brush hasn't been easy for me, until a few years ago when I came across the EcoTools Precision Blush Brush, this is the perfect size to get the product onto the brush to begin with, and fits very nicely in Benefit Boxed powder but this makes applying blush a quick process. The colour application that you can get form this brush is perfect, the unique shape is small enough to fit on the cheeks and it's oversized so it applies the product where you want it to go. Also a quick mention, when it comes to cream blush I tend to use the Real Techniques Stippling brush as it's quick to use, but it blends cream products real quickly without leaving your foundation looking streaky. (£7.99 and £11.99 - link and link)

The Contour Brush -

One of my favourite brushes of all time is the Real Techniques Sculpting brush! This brush is perfect for controlling especially because of the shape, it has a flat and wide head which makes it super easy to control and add definition to the face, it's perfect for cream and powder products! This applies the product effortlessly  as well as blending out at the same time. I have recommended this for a few friends and they are as obsessed as I am! Finding a control brush hasn't been easy because I wanted one that wouldn't apply it harsh, but one that is build able to alter the shades and this is the brush! (£9.99 - link)

The Bronzing Brush -

I don't tend to use bronzer too much but when I do the Real Techniques blush brush is perfect, simply because it's a fluffy and tapered brush which applied the bronzer in a more natural and effortless way simple because it's big enough so it's great at dispersing the bronzer making it more natural. But with the brush being tapered it allows you to apply the product then it blends at the same time, this allows you to also do your bronzer in hardly no time! (£9.99 - link)

The Highlighter Brush - 

For Cream highlighter I use the Elf Small stipple brush, as I find duo-fibre brushes best for cream products as it blends them much nicer without leaving you looking streaky and unnatural. This brush is so cheap but is amazing, this is also the perfect size and shape for highlighter and applies the products where you want it to go. Then for powder highlighter and everything in between, I use the Real Techniques duo-fibre contour brush which you can find in the duo-fibre kit, this is the perfect size for highlighter and picks up the right amount of product without looking over the top, especially when it comes to your highlighter! This blends the product and makes everything a much quicker process. (£4.50 and £23.99 - link and link)

The Eyebrow Brush -

I use a range of products for my eye brows from cream to powder and the best brush is the Anastasia Beverly Hill #12 brush, this is great for your eye brows because it's small enough for precise application, and it also comes with a spoolie at the other end! I will never look back now, and won't use any other brush when it comes to my eye brows! (£15.00 - link)

The Cream Eyeshadow Brush -

When it comes to cream eyeshadow and bases, such as Mac paint pots I use the Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush which is available in the starter kit, this is the perfect brush for applying cream products as it just blends them so quick and effortlessly! Nothing looks unnatural and streaky, it makes the cream eyeshadows blend really nicely, as well as making everything look even and flawless. (£20.99 - link)

The Eyeshadow Brushes - 

When it comes to eyeshadow the best brushes I have found are the dual ended brushes from EcoTools which is called the Eye Enhancing Duo Brush Set. These two brushes (in actual fact four brushes), give you everything you need to complete an eye look it comes with a shade, define and blend and smudge! Everything you need for a daily look, these make eye shadow a lot easier to do as it helps the shades blend a lot nicer, but it applies an even wash of colour all over the eye and for the price you can't go wrong! (£6.99 - link)

The Blending Brush - 

The last brush is an eye blending brush, which is the Mac 234 this is just the perfect brush for blending eyeshadow as it is a split fibre brush, one side offers you a natural side which gives you a softer and more natural look, while the synthetic fibres gives you the option to use this side for applying colour onto the lids while giving you a perfect look. This brush is such a hand brush, because you could essentially do your whole eye look with this one brush if you was in a rush, just perfect while giving you a lot that has no harsh edges. (£21.00 - link)

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MUA Strobe & glow highlight kit

Hello everyone,

I have a review on a highlighter I have been using recently, which is the MUA Luxe Strobe and glow highlight kit in pearl gold. I have recently been loving highlighters even more, and thought considering the drugstore don't do too many I would review some good ones for you.

This highlighter compact comes in a pink metallic packaging which isn't too bulky considering the price and product, but I am not the biggest fan of metallic and it can look cheap. MUA are also selling a Bronze and Sculpt contour kit which is in similar packaging to this. This is a new product from MUA Luxe, which is their higher end range form the brand, this is available from Superdrug for only £5, but currently £4 (link here).

This strobe and glow kit comes with a decent sized mirror in the first section, and then you have the powder. This powder looks matte but has slight shimmers in the powder but I would class this as a satin powder, this is perfect on it's own or layered. 

Under the powder is the cream highlighter, this is the sam texture as the Nars copacabana highlighter stick, as it's very smooth and silky. This is a champagne highlighter, this is a sheer highlighter but it's very build able. This highlighter can definitely be used quite sheer but it's definitely build able, this is lovely underneath the powder highlighter.

On the left if the swatch of the power and next to it is the cream highlighter. As you can se both of these products are sheer but build able. The way I use this is by starting off with the cream highlighter, using the Elf small stipple brush and stippling this onto my cheekbones, then I follow up with the powder using the Real Techniques duo fibre contour brush to pat on the powder on top, to set everything in place. 

This highlighter gives you the most beautiful highlighter that is noticeable, without looking like a disco ball. This looks so natural but is defiantly build able, less is definitely more with this product because this can sit on top of the skin if you use too much. I have had multiple complements on my highlighter, to the point where people can't believe that is only costs £4, I would defiantly give this a try I think this is more suitable for people with normal to combination/oily skin, but if you ahem dry patches stay away form this product or only apply this where your not dry, as this can look very noticeable and patchy. 

Product - MUA Luxe Strobe and glow highlighter in Pearl gold

Price - Brought for £4, was £5

Where from? - Superdrug 

Pros - Affordable, easy to use, convenient and good packaging

Cons - Can look over the top, packaging looks 'cheap'

Best used - Over foundation, before powder

Brushes used - Elf Small stipple brush, RT duo fibre contour brush

Dupe - Cream formula reminds me of Nars Copacabana multiple, shades are similar not a match

Overall rating - 8/10, would definetley recommend this to a friend I have already 

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Top three lipsticks

Hello everyone,

For this weeks post I am coming at you with a beauty post, sharing with you my three top lipsticks! I have covered every price range I would say from drugstore, semi high end and high end! I am starting to get back into the beauty posts slowly, as I have a few more up my sleeve!

(For some reason in the pictures they look much brighter, but the swatches are more true to colour)

Left - right

Sleek Matte Me in Birthday Suit

Bobbi Brown cream lip colour in Rose Petal 7 

Mac Matte lipstick in Velvet Teddy

Top - bottom 

(Sleek matte me in birthday suit, Mac velvet teddy, Bobbi Brown in Rose petal)

Sleek Matte Me in Birthday Suit: 

This is a matte liquid lipstick and I have to say it's aa very nice one, my friends and I all picked this up in Superdrug during out break and we all are in love with the colour and the formula. The colour is a rose nude beige, the formula is easy to apply with the applicator, but not the neater way applicator. I would say this does last a good amount of time, without feeling too dry but tacky over time it 'disasters' in the centre of the lips, so application is needed throughout the day. This is a very flattering shade and I struggle wether I am going to wear this or Velvet Teddy. I also apply Mac Spice lip liner under neath, which isn't needed but I like the more intense colour. (Price - £4.99, link)

Mac Velvet Teddy:

I haven't had velvet teddy for long, not even a year yet and this is the most I have gone through a lipstick! I was never into nude lipsticks too much, letting no a beige nude. I am going to make a big claim, this is I think the best nude lipstick I have used. This is such a flattering colour, but it's just so easy to wear and goes with everything! This isn't the most drying lipstick i've tried, but it goes on so well and it's my everyday lipstick. (Price - £15.50, link)

Bobbi Brown cream lip colour in Rose petal:

I got this lipstick as part of a box gift set from Bobbi Brown for my birthday, as i've always wanted to try their lipsticks especially! This was the shade that I picked out, as I wanted a your lips but better shade, this is a pink/peach nude which looks very flattering for everyday especially! This is more of a glaze type shade, but it's beautiful on the lips and completes any look you have on. This doesn't last for too long as this is more of a 'shimmer' but it glides on the lips, and one you can put on without a mirror! (Price - £20, link)

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Lazy Day Makeup Routine

Hello everyone,

I am finally doing a beauty post for you today, I thought I would talk about my lazy day makeup routine with you, because I am being 100% honest... I have been really lazy with my makeup in the morning but I have a full proof makeup routine to speed things up!

My everyday makeup bag is from Ted Baker!

L'Oreal Lumi magique foundation

L'areal True match concealer

Soap and Glory Kick Ass powder

Benefit Hoola

Benefit Hervana

The Balm Mary loumanizer highlighter 

Mac Painterly paint pot

Mac All that glitters (all over lid)

Mac Omega (crease)

Brows - I've had my brows tinted 

Benefit roller lash mascara

Korres tinted wild rose lip butter 

This is the best makeup for a lazy day! What are your essential lazy day products?

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Autumn/Winter Lip Favourites

Hello everyone,

I thought I would talk to you about my favourite lip products when it reaches Autumn and Winter, everyone knows as soon as it hits the colder months especially the makeup changes, and the lips are not coming to be darker and more nude.

Starting with the nudes, I have two Mac lipsticks which are my favourite all the time but especially in the colder months, the first one is Velvet Teddy this is the most perfect brown nude! you can't get a better brown nude then this, it suites everyones complexion and makes your lips look amazing! The my nude nude is Mac Myth, this looks outstanding and is the best nude without looking like 'concealer lips', it suites a fair complexion on it's own or with a gloss on top! Onto the darker ones, my all time favourite and most popular is Mac Rebel, this is my all time favourite autumn/winter lipstick as it's the perfect purple/plum, it looks incredible on every skin tone and looks so chic! Onto another plum which is more of a pinky one and this is Chanel Rouge Coco shine in 61 Bonheur, a lipstick which is so easy and effortless to apply, and is perfect for someone who isn't confident enough for Rebel. Onto a gloss which is the Tanya Burr lipgloss in Berry Picking, the perfect berry plum lip gloss, this is very pigmented, and will look lovely on every skin tone. Lastly is my only 'red' which is the Soap and Glory sexy mother pucker gloss stick in Plum Jam, this can look more of a pink/plum red, but it lovely to wear with a simple gold eye, I am in the market for a more neutral red such as Lady Bug from Mac.

What are your go to autumn/winter lip colours?

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Top 5 Highlighters

Hello everyone,

I wanted to talk to you about highlighters this week, I am a massive lover of having a decent highlight and these are my favourite products to achieve this. I love highlighters all year round, and every season but especially in Autumn/Winter.

To start with I thought I would give you a low on on highlighter in general. Highlighters come in all different formulas, packages, shades, colour and textures, the main purpose for highlighter is to emphasis the high points on the face, this is used to bring attention to these areas. Highlighting can be used on its own or in conjunction with contour, bronzer (the whole shebang). The areas you want to focus highlighter is on your cheek bones, bridge of the nose, cupids bow, brow bone and  centre of the forehead and on your chin. 

Clockwise - Mac Pearl cream colour base, Benefit Watt's up, Mac Soft and Gentle, NYX liquid illuminator, Stila Kitten Duo

The highlighter I have loved for the longest time is Stila Kitten, I brought this on my birthday a few years back and was obsessed with it for months! I haven't used this in around a year, but Kitten is the perfect highlight which is visible on the skin, I use the left shade more as it's more neutral for my skin tone. 

My newest highlight and one of my favourites is the Mac cream colour base in Pearl, I remember Beautycrush talking about this and the benefit one for months and have only picked the Mac one up recently. It looks beautiful applied with the fingers, it's quick and easy but looks amazing!

Benefit Watt's up is my all time favourite, this is a lovely champagne gold which highlights the face like no other, this is better applied from you finger instead of using it from the tube as it looks unnatural.

The most famous highlighter is Mac Soft and Gentle mineralise skin finish, this is the best golden highlighter, perfect for any skin tone and is the best powder highlighter. This is perfect for both day and night and looks amazing on it's own or layered.

Then onto the most affordable one which is the NYX liquid illuminator in 02, this is again a gold which I say in soft and gentle in liquid version, this can look other the top but if you use a tiny bit dabbed in with your finger or a stippling brush it looks beautiful! I would defiantly say this is more of an evening highlight, as it looks very put together with a lot of hardly any makeup, you can also use this mixed in with your moisturiser or your base, for a natural all over glow!

Those are my favourites, I'll see you next week!

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