First things first, Happy New Year!! I'm going to try and keep this as short and sweet as possible as I know no one will be feeling fab today. Here are my absolute favourite products of 2014.
Skincare
Spot treatment: Epiduo
Make up
Hair care
Other
2014 Favourites
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Thursday, January 01, 2015
I know as a beauty blogger you'd expect that I'm buying new make up on a weekly basis but on a student budget, it just isn't possible. I haven't bought any new make up in at least a couple of months which, for me, is insane. When I was working I was buying new products all the time and I'm definitely missing it! I'm now getting to the point where everything is running out and I'm in desperate need of some new concealer so I decided it was finally time to spend some money.
Collection Lasting Perfection concealer is one of my staples. Essentially every beauty blogger uses it and there's a reason for that. It gives outstanding coverage and is so cheap at only £4.19. I use the shade Fair as Cool Medium is slightly too dark for my winter skin and this is the perfect shade for highlighting under my eyes. My current tube isn't quite finished but I thought I'd buy a back up!
I've heard really good reviews of the
Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer but for some reason have never got around to trying it. This is slightly more expensive than Collection at £5.49 but from what I've heard it's definitely worth that little bit more. I picked up the shade Ivory which I'm hoping won't be too dark for me... Fingers crossed! This is supposed to have an instant anti-fatigue effect which I'm praying will make my under eye bags look a little better - I'll get back to you on that one.
In my constant search for the perfect nude, I got
J Lo's Nude from the Colour Riche Exclusive L'Oreal line. I can't remember who, but one of the beauty gurus I watch said this was a really good nude for pale skin. Because it's a slightly darker nude, I'm hoping it'll be a good colour without washing my lips out and giving me that concealer lips look! I think £6.99 is a pretty good price for a lipstick, especially a L'Oreal one.
Let me know if you want a review of the Wake Me Up or J Lo's nude!
First Make Up Purchase in Months!
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Sunday, December 14, 2014
Sorry for the lack of posts - I came home from university on Friday (a bit earlier than I was supposed to) and have been so ill since I've been back. I didn't want to miss another Monday Must-Have so made a special effort! I know I have spoken about L'Oreal True Match before, but I have never actually shown it in action! I thought for today's post, I would show you why I love it as much as I do.
First things first, the packaging. I actually really love it compared to most drug store foundations. It's a glass bottle with a silver pump and clear lid. The only problem I have is the mess that ends up in the lid as I feel like I'm wasting so much product. This is a bottle that you know isn't going to break and cover the contents of your make up bag in foundation.
The shade range of True Match is out of this world. With 18 different shades, it already stands out from other drugstore foundations. They have a shade for all skin colours (1-8), including neutral (N), warm (W) and cool (C). As a very fair skinned girl, this is amazing because so many pale foundations have pink undertones and look ridiculous on me. I'm W1 Golden Ivory and although being a tiny bit too dark, blends perfectly to match my neck. I do also have N1 Ivory but left it at home when I went to university as I lost the lid! This is the same as W1 but slightly more pink.
True Match is rumoured to be a Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk dupe which I think is pretty impressive. The formula is quite thick but nowhere near as thick as MAC Studio Fix. This foundation blends like an absolute dream. You do need quite a moisturised face underneath or it will cling to dry patches, but with a good moisturiser and primer underneath that's not an issue.
This is my face moisturised and primed and as you can see it's quite blemished and scarred. It's looking particularly bad at the moment because I'm unwell. The left side of my face is the worst for scarring so I think it works quite well as a test.
These pictures are one layer of True Match which is really all you need. My blemishes and scars are covered and some of the discolouration has been covered. For people with clearer skin, you could easily wear this foundation and not need any concealer. I'd say it's medium coverage but could definitely be built up to full coverage. The foundation sets matte but doesn't leave your face looking two-dimensional. I can actually get away without powder on top which is really saying something for my skin!
At £9.99, this is definitely a foundation that you need to check out. It's perfect for everyday wear and for nights out too. It does have SPF17 but there's hardly any bounce back from flash photography. With a shade range rivalling high end foundations, you'll definitely be able to find a shade to suit your skin tone.
Monday Must-Have (Before & After)
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Monday, December 08, 2014
How is it 1st December tomorrow?! I could not be happier that it's December. December means going home to my family for Christmas and 2 months off university, although I still have exams and coursework cry cry. November has been such a busy month for me so I'm glad to see the back of it! Onto the favourites...
St Ives Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub
I featured this in my
Autumn/Winter skincare update a couple of weeks ago, it's a definite favourite of mine this month. My skin has been breaking out like crazy and my pores look horrible and clogged, but this is definitely helping. Although it says it's a daily scrub, I would no way use it daily as I think it's too abrasive. This smells amazing and the big grains in it to really clear out your pores and leave your skin looking fresher. There's actually 4 different types of this scrub - blemish fighting, invigorating, gentle and renew & firm - so if you want a good quality scrub but don't have problems with blemishes I would try one of the others!
L'Oreal True Match
I think this is possibly my favourite foundation, although I do change my mind weekly. The coverage is amazing, it lasts quite a long time and gives your skin a gorgeous finish without looking cakey. The shade range is out of this world which is rare for a drugstore foundation so you'll definitely be able to find a shade to suit your skin tone. If you're a lover of medium coverage foundation and you haven't tried this foundation yet, go and do it!
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - Waterproof
When I first got this I wasn't sure about it, I wanted a cheap, everyday waterproof mascara to keep the curl in place and that's exactly what it does. I wouldn't say that it does anything amazing in terms of length or volume but for the price I think it's really good. I use it on my top lashes, after I have curled them, as a thin base coat and also on my bottom lashes as the wind and cold makes my eyes water.
Mac Prep + Prime Skin
I'd love to tell you how I got my hands on this tester but I can't remember which is heartbreaking. Full size is quite pricey (£21), although not as expensive as Porefessional, but this primer is definitely worth the money. It's a creamy, silicone formula that applies to the skin really easily and sinks in straight away. My skin is so smooth after using it, foundation blends out so easily and doesn't cake anywhere. I don't think this does anything to control my shine but some powder sorts that out. There's a number of different Prep + Prime, all targeting different things (I need to get my hands on the Skin Refined Zone) and if they're all like this, I definitely recommend checking the line out. Some of the others are more expensive than this but if you have the money to spend..!
Urban Decay Naked 3
I could not have been more excited when I got this. My boyfriend came to visit and bought it for me as a little treat and I have used it nearly every day since. I got the Naked 3 rather than 1 or 2 as I have pale skin and blue eyes which the rosey shades compliment amazingly. It comes with 4 primers, each with about a weeks supply in and they make the eyeshadows last even longer than usual. The pigmentation is amazing, they're so easy to blend and the colours.. Oh my god I can't even describe them. You need to put one of these on your Christmas list!!
Let me know in the comments what you've been loving this month.
November Favourites!
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Sunday, November 30, 2014
