Recent Makeup Purchases

I have been picking a few random makeup products up lately for my birthday and Christmas just so my makeup looks decent! I thought I would share these with you as I haven't done a beauty related post in forever!

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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My Favourite Brow Products

Hello everyone,

I am going to talk to you about my favourite brow products, apart from Blush and Lips, brows are my favourite part of doing my makeup, simply because they make so much of a difference to any look, they are a key staple in my makeup routine. I personally think everyone should do something to their brows, wether it's just shaping or filling them in, it makes such a difference and makes everyone look a bit more out together, they stand out and change/shape your face.

Maybelline Brow Satin Brow duo (£5.99) - This is a great drugstore eye brow product and it's a very unique one. This has a pencil on one end which is perfect for shaping, then you have a sponge with brow powder on to fill in your brows. This is very good and gives natural definition to your brows, perfect for beginners who are just looking for natural definition. Link

Anastasia Brow Wiz (£15.50) - This is a very staple brow product as in pencils are the easiest to use and the most common, a lot of people may own this because it is very easy and convenient. This has a brow brush on one end to distribute the product and to blend harsh lines, this needs to be used with a light hand as pencils can come across very unnatural and harsh at times. This is a great product for travelling as well as using on the go or if your in a hurry. Link

Benefit High Brow Glow (£16.50) - This is more for the people who want the very slick and strong brows, this can be used to highlight all round the brow for definition or can be used in certain places such as under the arch of the brow for a crisp arch. This this a good product but it's not a staple for many people, I don't use this everyday but this can make a big difference. Link

Real Techniques Brow Brush (Can't but separate £20.99 for set) - Their aren't too many good brushes for a cheaper price compared to Mac etc, but Real Techniques is greta quality this brush can be very natural; because it's bigger than some brushes, meaning it looks natural as it doesn't add too much products, great with most powder products not too much cream. Link

Anastasia No 12 Brush (£15) - This is now my favourite brow brush for cream products, it adds more definition because it's smaller, this is also very precise for creams. This is a the perfect brush as well because of the brush on the end, it blends products out like no other. Link

Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade (£15) - Speaking of cream products above, the reason why I brought the No 12 brush is for this product, the Dipbrow Pomade is one of my favourites! Perfect for definition, you don't need a lot of product and a little goes a long way, I would also recommend using a light hand since you don't want it too harsh. I would say for everyone to try this because it's so easy to use that it can't really go wrong. Also the best thing about this is that it lasts forever meaning you don't have to worry about it throughout the day! Link

Mac Eyeshadows (£13) - You may of heard about using eye shadows for brows, well for me the best eyeshadows for this is Mac. I have Charcoal Brown and Omega which are both Matte shadows, for your brows you want to use mattes since their not sparkly etc. These two colours are the best for brows I think and would suit any colour brows. These can also still be defining as well as natural, it just tends on how much you use etc. Link

HD Brows Palette Foxy (£19.95) - This is one product I had always walked to try as HD Brows as a brand made your brows look perfect! This is a lovely palette again for travelling, but because you have so many colours which is great if you tend to go for different looks. 

Benefit Gimme Brow (£18.50) - This is one of my favourite products again, this is a life savour when your not looking to do much with your brows, great for every day! This gives slight definition and keeps them natural. This is amazing on it's own or layered with other products such as the Mac eyeshadows. This is perfect for beginners who don't want too much product or definition. Link

Anastasia Brow Powder Duo (£17) - This is again a lovely product from Anastasia which keeps your brow natural but defined. I tend to mix the two colours together to create the perfect colour and definition. This is easy to use and great to carry with you on a daily basis. Link

Benefit Brow Zings (£24.50) - This again is another of my favourite products, this is perfect for creating definition and a precise look to your brows. I first apply the powder then go in with the wax to set them and to add more colour and definition, this is pricey but will last you ages, this is easy to use and works perfectly every time. You can also create a more natural looking by using either of the products on it's own. Link

What are your favourite brow products! I have a eyebrow routine from last year click here.

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