A LIPSTICK FOR CAT LOVERS?

I admit, you've had to wait a while to hear from me but I think it's been worth the wait.  Every time a Beauty Bay email pings into my inbox I can't help but have a browse.  However, being on a student budget and all that, I rarely buy anything.  However once I saw a tiny cat face peeking out of a MLBB lipstick shade, it took me less than 30 to place an order.

Introducing the Paul & Joe Autumn 2015 lipstick in 'Cafe Espresso 095'.

I have to confess, I hadn't heard anything about Paul & Joe before and didn't bother to research it before I placed my order, how unlike me!  Yes it's a risk (especially for someone who hates wasting money!) but it's a lipstick, with a cat in it.  What was I meant to do?

After a little bit of reading, I found that it's actually created using a Japanese candy making technique called 'Kinatro - ame'.  This is when layers of candy (or makeup in this case) are rolled together meaning that the cat face shape runs through the whole bullet of lipstick.

I've spent too long for my own good staring at this lipstick - the gorgeous case and tiny detailed cat face! And yes I was scared to ruin it and actually use the lipstick but when I did I was actually very impressed!
The lipstick has a sheer and creamy formula, it contains cocoa seed butter, jojoba seed oil, lavender oil, orange flower water and white lily extract which makes the lipstick very nourishing and moisterising.  However, this also means they do also have a limited wear time and need re-applying after 2-3 hours but the neutral shade and sheer formula make this very easy to do without a mirror.
This was definitely my favourite shade, it's the neutral pick of the Autumn 2015 collection and is a great everyday shade.  A little more brown toned but very similar to MAC Patisserie which is my current favourite lipstick.  If I had the money I'm sure I would try to get my hands on the red shade which also looks gorgeous!

Paul & Joe Autumn 2015 lipstick in 'Cafe Espresso 095' - £14

Paul & Joe Autumn 2015 lipstick case - £7

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5 PRODUCTS I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT

As a beauty blogger, I feel like we are often asked about our holy grail, favourite products.  So I thought I would share my very favourite products with you, most of which have never featured on my blog before but are well worth a mention!
Benefit's Hoola Bronzer has been a staple in my makeup collection since I got it as a present a few years ago.  I genuinely don't think it has left my makeup bag since then!  No other bronzer I've tried has the same natural bronze colour which also works amazingly well as a contour shade as it doesn't have a warm undertone and it's matte too.  I've even used this as an eyeshadow!  Yep, I don't think I could live without this bronzer!

The NARS Sheer Glow Foundation is a more recent addition to my collection having only started using this at the start of the year.  I wont babble on about this for too long because you've probably already heard it all but basically; it's dewy, but not shiny - medium coverage but buildable - I love it - packaging could definitely be improved.

L'Oreal's Superliner Perfect Slim was one of my firm favourites last year and I wore it almost everyday!  Since then I've gone off eyeliner, but if I ever fancy a winged liner look this is what I will use!  It's very user friendly as it has a sharp felt tip aswell as being very black and longlasting!

A slightly strange one here but the Nivea Hydrocare Lip Balm is amazing! I've tried my fair share of lip balms over the years and this one is the best!  It has a lovely subtle scent, SPF 15, and is very hydrating but what wins me over is the perfect balmy texture - it's not matte but not glossy either, meaning it applies smoothly to the lips and sits perfectly under lipsticks!  And the best bit?  It's only £1.55.

And finally, if you haven't tried the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer you've probably heard loads about it!  So I will keep this one short and sweet; it packs amazing high coverage with easy application, long lasting superpowers and all for a mere £4.19!  This concealer can do no wrong and I couldn't be without it!

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YSL ROUGE VOLUPTE SHINE

Let me introduce you to my favourite summer lipstick; YSL Rouge Volupte Shine - Shade 15, Coral Intuitive.

I was gifted this gorgeous lipstick at Christmas and was so thrilled with it, but now its summer and this lipstick has really come into its own.  Firstly, how beautiful is this packaging?  This is my first and only YSL product and lets just say I love carrying this around in my bag (as you can see from all the scratches) and staring at it because its just that gorgeous!  But anyway, aside from the shiny luxurious packaging, the product inside is just as stunning.  The range of Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks are the sheerer of YSL's lipsticks, they are designed to give a dazzling colour whilst also offering a luminous shine and comfort, and they don't disappoint.  This lipstick applies so smoothly and easily straight from the bullet and gives a wash of peachy pink/coral colour to the lips.  I'm obsessed with these sorts of colours, they look so natural but add a pop of pretty colour.  I'm also aware that these could be seen as just a glorified tinted lip balm, but what really separates them is the more pigmented formula and silky smooth texture as well as being very moisterising and comfortable.  However, you can expect with such a sheer, glossy formula that the lasting power of these isn't all that great and it has no chance of looking perfect after a burger!  But the amazing quality and sheerer finish means that this is no trouble to apply on the go and even without a mirror.
Yep, its fair to say I'm well and truly obsessed.  And rightly so!  If you've tried this or want to try it, feel free to leave me a comment, it would be nice to know I'm not the only one falling in love with a lipstick!

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BOURJOIS HEALTHY MIX

My makeup collection has always lacked a good, lightweight foundation or tinted moisteriser.  I fell head over heels in love with the Nars Sheer Glow Foundation back in December but since then my skin has cleared up and the weather has warmed up meaning my skin has been craving a lighter base but with the same dewy finish.

So, after hearing lots of hype about the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation I went into Superdrug and picked it up in the shade N52 - Vanilla along with the matching Healthy Balance Powder.

The foundation aims to give a flawless complexion whilst leaving the skin luminous and hydrated. It contains apricot to give radiance, melon for hydration and apple to protect youthful skin, giving it a fruity fragrance which I actually quite like. The foundation is enriched with crystalline pigments which evens out the complexion whilst also giving a natural glow.  I've heard from other bloggers that this foundation has low coverage which was just what I was after.  As promised the finish is luminous and healthy looking which I love!  As expected the coverage is low, therefore if you have blemished skin this product won't give you a flawless finish.  However, on good skin days this stuff is amazing! It looks just like healthy glowing skin!  This is going to be a summer staple for me.

The matchingpowder is very finely milled and aims to give a matte finish to the skin but with a natural and healthy glow.  I really love the packaging of this because the compact is well made and feels durable (unlike my great, but flimsy Rimmel Stay Matte Powder).  It also has a large mirror which will be great on a night out or in my handbag.  It also contains fruit extracts such as Yuzu fruit which helps to prevent shine and Sharon fruit to hydrate the skin.  As this powder is so finely milled it blends into the skin seamlessly and doesn't look cakey or heavy at all.  However, this powder is quite a bit more expensive than most drugstore powders, is it worth the money? I'm not sure, it's nice but I would rather invest my money in a lipstick or mascara.

P.S. There is currently 3 for 2 on Bourjois products at both Superdrug and Boots, thank me later!

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ZOEVA EYE BRUSHES

I've never quite got the hang of eye makeup, although I love a good mascara, eyeshadow has never been my thing.  I think it can go wrong so easily and I've been happy enough without it.
But recently, with a few events coming up I'm feeling the need to wear a bit of something on my eyes so I decided to encourage me (just as gym-goers buy new gym gear) I would update my (very) old eye brush collection.

Not wanting to spend a lot of money as I'm not sure how much use these brushes will get, I had a look through the Zoeva brushes on Beauty Bay (very quick delivery I might add!).  After eyeing up their classic eye collection I decided to just buy a few I wanted.

If I'm going for a full eye-makeup look I will use all of these brushes, and here's how:
The 232 / luxe classic shader is super soft and perfect for applying colour all over the lid for a great base.  I then use the 221 / luxe soft crease brush to blend colours together.  This brush has been likened to the famous MAC 217 as its so soft and fluffy!
The 226 / smudger is then ideal for applying shadow along the lower lashline due to the short bristles and thin shape which give lots of control.  Its also great for, as the name suggests, smudging pencil liner for a smoky look.
And finally, if I want to add some gel liner, I will use the 317 / wing liner to create the perfect feline flick!  I've needed a new liner brush for such a long time so this is a great upgrade from my grotty old one which I've used for years.

I wouldn't say I'm converted to an everyday eyeshadow/liner wearer just yet but that time might be coming!

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THE SUNDAY FACE

Sundays are made for cosy jumpers, slipper socks and no makeup.  But if I find myself  going for a walk, visiting family or out for lunch and need something to make myself a little more presentable I grab four products and go.

My skin isn't exactly perfect and I need a bit of coverage so the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer helps to even things out a bit and brighten up my face.  I love this stuff!  I think I've gone through about five of these now, the coverage is so good for the tiny price!
Recently Iv'e been sporting a more defined brow and I've been loving the Soap & Glory Archery brow pencil and brush in 'hot chocolate'.  The quality of this is also great, it's precise and has a good spoolie (always a must!).
I rarely step out of the house without some mascara on!  I find that mascara makes the biggest difference to my makeup and really makes me look more awake.  Currently I've been loving the Benefit They're Real mascara, you can buy this cute mini mascara from Boots stores.
A lip product is optional, some people are fine with a lip balm but personally I like a bit more colour so I dabbed some of my Rimmel Apocolips Lip Lacquer in 'celestial' on the centre of my lips and blended it out a bit with my finger to create a stain.

What's your makeup choice for a lazy Sunday?

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NARS NEWBIES

It's no secret that NARS is by all means my favourite makeup brand and I was lucky enough to receive a few items for my 18th birthday recently from friends and family.

One of my closest friends knows me far too well and bought me this gorgeous pure matte lipstick in the shade 'amsterdam' along with vodka!  I've never tried the pure matte lipsticks before and haven't heard much about them but I have been very impressed!  The colour is just beautiful, amsterdam is described as a garnet red (warm and deep) that's very wearable.  The formula is also lovely as expected!  The lipstick contains wild mango butter and vitamin E which prevent your lips from drying out and have antioxident benefits, whilst it's also long wearing due to the matte finish.

My mum bought me the hyped up sheer glow foundation which I have been longing to try for months now!  I have the shade 'mont blanc' which is the second lightest and it's a perfect match.  The shade is slightly yellow toned which helps to even out redness in my skin.  As I'm sure you will know, the sheer glow foundations have a dewy finish which brightens up the skin, I was concerned that this might not work well with my slightly oily skin but I've found that a bit of powder stops things from getting too shiny.
However, the fact that you need to buy the pump separately annoys me because my mornings seem to get a bit messy! I've also noticed the slightly odd scent, I can deal with it but it's got nothing on Rimmel's Wake Me Up!

What have you added to your makeup collection recently?

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APOCOLIPS

Big shout out to my laptop which has once again decided to crash, hence the lack of posts around these parts! 

Rimmel released the apocolips lip lacquers over a year ago but I never picked any up because I hated the idea of shiny, sticky lips. A year on and I have moved on from my beloved matte finishes and I'm opting for something a little more glossy. Lip lacquers are highly pigmented lipglosses which last well on the lips and I'm loving them!

I picked up two shades, the first is celestial, a peachy-pink nude shade. This one is fairly natural and is a lovely everyday shade that's easy to wear. The second is galaxy, a slightly deeper plum toned shade with some shimmer. I have been wearing celestial on an almost daily basis recently and have had a few compliments when wearing it, galaxy is lovely when I want something a bit more bold but without the hassle of a red lip.

Aside from the lovely shades, the formula of these is a winner! They are so comfortable to wear and after half an hour or so they dry down from their shiny finish to something more satin and natural which lasts pretty well. I also love the doe-foot applicator which holds a little 'pool' of product and makes outlining your lips so damn easy!  I've found that if you apply a very thin layer using the back of the applicator, the finish is immediately less glossy and it lasts far longer.  Last but not least, the packaging of these is just lovely and for your money's worth, you can't really go wrong. I can now see what all the hype was about! I'm so impressed with these, need I say more?

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THE POUCH POST

Bit of a strange title? Yes.  But what most people call a makeup bag, I call a pouch because not only does it keep all of those essential beauty bits in one place but it also holds various other day to day items.  So, without further ado, here is my pouch:

The 'pouch' itself is from The Body Shop, it came with a range of Vitamin E products in but due to its small-ness and see-through-ness it is now my pouch!

First up; hair saviours.  A dry shampoo can solve a multitude of hair issues and this tiny batiste one does the job well.  Along with that, I also carry around a texturising spray (Umburto Giannini - backcomb in a bottle) and a few clips, grips and hair bands/elastics to create a hairstyle in minutes.  Oh, and I never forget my mini hairbrush, complete with a mirror.

For makeup, I have the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer, a mini They're Real mascara, Avon glimmerstick eyeliner, lip balm, Nars velvet matte lip pencil in Dolce Vita and oil absorbing sheets.  It doesn't seem like much but it corrects many a makeup malfunction, shiny face? Sudden spot?  Dry, chapped lips?  Worn off eye-makeup?  Faded lipstick?  I've got it all covered!

On top of that I also carry around a mini Aveeno moisteriser (which works on face, body and hands), mini Black Peony by ZARA perfume, ibuprofen (surprisingly handy!), safety pins (in case of a wardrobe malfunction), gum, and blister plasters.

It may seem like a lot but the beauty of the 'pouch' is that you can simply move it from one bag to the next and know that you will be covered!

What's in your 'pouch'?

P.S. I have to apologise for my blogging break.  I have been so busy lately and haven't felt inspired to post anything.  I don't want blogging to become a chore for me so decided it was best to take a break, hopefully I will be posting a bit more regularly now though.

#BROWTHISWAY

Please give a big round of applause to my new found brow hero; brow this way!

For months now I have been searching for a new brow gel/crayon/pencil as mine just wasnt doing the job quite right, and I think I have found it in Rimmel's latest brow release!
Although it seems like a take on Benefit's 'gimme brow', a product I have been debating whether to pick up for months now.  It is similar in the fact that it is a tiny tinted brow gel which adds both colour and keeps everything in place, the shade range is also very similar, it offers a light, medium and dark brown (I have dark brown).  Although I have not tried 'gimme brow', the main difference I have noticed is the wand.  The Rimmel wand is larger and picks up a little too much product which makes application a little difficult and it takes longer.  However, the formula of the product itself is lovely!  It gives my brows a natural thickness in just the right colour and keeps them in place all day, its not as pigmented or precise as I would like for an evening look but for an everyday makeup look, this works perfectly.
But, lets not forget the unbelievable price of this!  At £3.99 its not going to make much of a dent in your bank balance, so why not?

What is your brow hero?

Rimmel - Brow this way - £3.99

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THE SHEER LIP EDIT

Come Autumn and Winter I will be well and truly back to my all time favourite long lasting matte formulas, but when the sun shows it's face, the glossier and brighter, the better.

Revlon Lip Butter - Tutti Frutti - Sorbet

Anyone remember last year when I first bought these and wrote this post?  Yep, it's fair to say I was head over heels about these baby's.  The lip butters have buildable colour in a lovely glossy and sheer formula that moisturises.  Although the shine wears off after an hour or two, the pigment stains your lips leaving a subtle colour.  Orange lips are coming back again this summer so Tutti Frutti is going to become a handbag staple for me.

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon - Peach on the Beach

This is a recent purchase but I already love it, as the name would suggest, it is a lovely peach/coral colour that just screams summer!  It's glossy, balmy, sheer and colour all packed into a crayon.  However, I do find that the formula tends to cling to dry patches on my lips so I often need to use a separate lip balm before application.
(P.S. these are currently on offer at Supedrug)

The Body Shop Born Lippy - Satsuma Shimmer

Who remembers these?  Loved but not forgotten, these are probably the most sheer and least pigmented of the bunch.  But they smell the best, by a long way.  I can't even explain how great this smells, it's like the smell of the whole Body Shop mixed into an orange pot with a bit of shimmer.  If a pot is your sort of thing and your not too worried about pigmentation or shine, opt for this one!

What are your favourite lip colours for summer?

Today, I am off on holiday for a fortnight so although I will try my very hardest to upload a new post while I am away, the chances are slim *insert crying emoji*

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EMPTIES #1

At long last, summer has begun!

I'm kicking off with my first ever empties post, who's excited?

THE BODY SHOP SHEA LIP BUTTER

For months this was my favourite thing to apply before bed, it smells strange, but I sort of like it and every morning I woke up with soft lips.  I think it looks a bit over-glossy on the lips so would avoid wearing it in the daytime but does a great job at keeping my lips soft.  Since then I have just been using vaseline and I haven't really noticed a huge difference and vaseline lasts so much longer.  These are lovely and would make a great little gift but I don't think I will repurchase.

COLLECTION LASTING PERFECTION CONCEALER

I would be surprised if you haven't heard about this one before, it's the highstreet super-concealer.  It's very pigmented, full coverage yet still natural looking.  I will defiantly repurchase this as soon as I get down to the shops

CLARINS ONE STEP CLEANSER

I blogged about this one a while back singing all it's praises (see post here), and I must say I do still love it for travelling but ever since my trip to Italy and the purchase of Bioderma (see post here) it hasn't had as much love.  I managed to finish it though and probably will repurchase when my smaller bottle has run out.

THE BODY SHOP VITAMIN E MOISTURE CREAM

Believe it or not, this was the first ever moisturiser I tried and I still love it!  Although I have now switched to something a little thicker for a night cream this moisteriser is light, nourishing and smells lovely.  I have already repurchased!

LIZ EARLE CLEANSE AND POLISH HOT CLOTH CLEANSER

There is so much hype surrounding this product and I'm not sure I entirely agree.  I cant claim it wasn't lovely to use and made my skin super soft, because it did!  However, my skin continued to break out as usual so I can't say I'm head over heels for this cleanser as most bloggers are.  Will I buy it again?  Hmm, maybe but right now I am getting on fine with a far cheaper option (post coming soon!)

MAYBELLINE ROCKET VOLUME WATERPROOF MASCARA
This was the first mascara I ever fell in love with, and it remains a favourite to this day!  It gives plenty of volume and length but never clumps or flakes off and has great lasting power!  It's an all round winner!  I will repurchase this sometime in the future, but for now I am testing out the Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde mascara (post coming soon!) and have a few others on the wish list.

BATISTE DRY SHAMPOO
Ah, a classic!  I can't get enough of dry shampoo and go through these so quickly!  I love the classic because it smells great and just gets the job done.  I have no complaints and have already repurchased.

BOOTS NAIL POLISH REMOVER
Bit of a boring one here, not much to say about standard nail polish remover.  It's cheap, not quite so cheerful!  It really doesn't smell great, moisturise or do any other tricks, it does last a long time though!  Just bog standard and a bit stripping, probably won't repurchase. 

BOOTS NAIL POLISH REMOVER PADS
Now, this is a better remover!  Enriched with vitamin E these are very nourishing and so easy to use, especially on holiday!  They also smell lush!  Will defiantly buy these again!

TONI&GUY TEXTURISING SALT SPRAY
Last year this was the product to use for texture and I loved it!  It doesn't leave your hair feeling crispy or smelling weird but gives it a bit of texture and wave.  Although these days I tend to reach for my Charles Worthington texturising spray over this.  I think I have another one of these lying around somewhere, so I probably will finish that one up first!

NATURAL COLLECTION PRESSED POWDER
As you can probably see from my photo, this isn't exactly finished.  A couple of months ago I dropped this on the bathroom floor, an of course it smashed.  Since then I have tried using it but with very little luck, the brush doesn't pick up product well.  I wasn't very fond of this powder anyway so I won't be picking it up again.

CLEAN START HIT THE SPOT (SIMILAR HERE)
I actually have no idea how effective this was, sometimes my spots cleared up really quickly after using this, other times there was barely any effect.  For that reason I won't repurchase.  Please comment with your favourite spot treatment, the cheaper the better!

CLEAN START TINTED MOISTERISER
I believe this has been discontinued now, but to give you a summary.  This is quite an oily/dewy base with SPF15 and a lovely little moisteriser.  Although I opt for something more matte and higher coverage now, I mostly used this up in my early teens and recently finished it on holiday.  I'm not sure I would buy this again because I think there are better options out there for your money's worth.

Sorry, this is a bit of a lengthy post but congrats for getting this far!
Your my favourite readers, but don't tell the others!

Review: NARS velvet gloss lip pencil

So, last week was stressful to say the least (hence there being no post last week, sorry guys!)  My laptop has completely crashed and I started school again after a lovely, long study leave!  But I am back with a good old review for you all of one of my recent favourites.

We all remember when everyone was going bananas for the NARS velvet matte lip pencils back in November/December, right?  At the time I received the NARS Promisuous lip set for Christmas which contained four of the matte pencils and a gloss pencil.  Being a strictly matte and satin finish lover, I wasn't at all bothered about the gloss version but it turns out it has become my new favourite lip product!

The shade I own is 'new lover' a pink shade with golden shimmer, perfect for this time of year.  It is natural but adds the perfect amount colour.
Although this is described as a 'gloss pencil' it has more of a balmy/satin finish which is perfect for me to ease me into a more glossy lip!  This also makes it surprisingly long lasting but not drying, double win!  I find pencil style products very easy to apply, although the formula doesn't glide on as easy as some highstreet options do.
I also love the mini version because it means that this is always being thrown into various bags as an on-the-go product.

I know NARS also make a satin finish lip pencil so I am eager to try that version too!

Who else is loving the sunny weather we have been having here in England this weekend?  I know Dylan is!

Would you rather?

Image source: We Heart It

Be able to apply eyeliner perfectly or contour like Kim Kardashian?

Ooohhhh, this is so tricky!  I had to ponder over this response for a while, I think I would have to go for crazy Kardashian contouring because you can get away with smudged pencil liner but contouring can change your entire face.

Wear foundation that is two shades lighter, or two shades darker?

Defiantly lighter!  You can always correct a light foundation with bronzer and darker foundations can leave you looking like an oompa-loompa!

Wear no lipstick ever again, or no eyeliner ever again?

This is so tricky, I'm not sure I can choose!  Lipstick is a wonder product and can change any look from day to night, but eyeliner enhances the eyes and looks so classy!  If I absolutely had no choice, I guess it would have to be no lipstick.  I can always make do with lipgloss, right?

Give up your foundation or your mascara?

This one is easier, I would give up foundation.  Although I love it, I regularly make do with a bit of concealer and tinted moisterizer.  No biggie.

Wear the same makeup every day for the rest of your life, or drastically change it every day - even if it doesn't suit you?

I would wear the same makeup, I basically do this most days anyway and I know it suits me.  I couldn't take the risk of changing it.

Have dodgy brows or patchy fake tan?

I can't stand bad brows!  So it would have to be patchy fake tan, it's not as noticeable and you can always correct it with a bit of MAC face and body.

Have perfect white teeth, or have your perfect hairstyle?

Now, as tricky as this is, I don't think my teeth are all that bad.  Whereas my hair is never right, so I would love to have my perfect hairstyle!

Wear the same colour nail varnish your whole life, or be able to change the colour whenever you wish but it's always a bit smudged?

To be honest, most of the time my nail varnish is smudged and my collection of nail polish is not going to stop growing anytime soon so I would have to opt for changing nail polish colours.

Have your perfumes smell amazing to you (but to everyone else smell like a pine tree car freshener) or have perfumes that smell average to you (but smell incredible to those around you)?
Without a doubt have perfumes that smell amazing to everyone else!  I can deal with an 'average' smell just fine.

So there you go, let's just hope that we never have to make these decisions for real eh?

I am tagging Rinica at Rinica Writes and Megan at Rainbows and Ruby Slippers and anyone else who wants to do this of course!

Review: L'Oreal true match mineral foundation

After trying out a few different posts recently I have decided to treat you to a more traditional post.  A good old review of a product I have been loving!

I have never been a massive fan of mineral makeup and it's hardly the highstreet's strong point but after giving this baby a go, I don't think I will ever look back.

I presume I am not the only one who puts on their base at 7, half asleep with poor lighting and then after a few hours of working in fairly warm conditions looks in the mirror to find a slightly shiny, un-perfected face.  Only me?  This is where mineral makeup plays a key role!  Powders naturally combat shine and the foundation part gives you that extra coverage you might need to blur everything out.  This foundation doesn't come with the common 'cakey' misconception associated with mineral makeup but provides a natural coverage.

I now always keep this in my makeup bag (or 'pouch' as I like to call it) for midday touch ups or to add a bit of extra coverage when I need it.

The little brush does come in very handy when you are in a tiff, albeit a little scratchy but I just take another one with me anyway (more specifically, the real techniques buffing brush).

This foundation is 95% minerals and perfume and preservative free, making it ideal for every skin type.  However, it makes it a little pricer than your average highstreet foundation at £15.

A quick warning: Don't apply this on top of your foundation as a powder straight away!  It leaves it looking really cakey.

Have you tried this?  What is your opinion on mineral makeup?

New Release: Bourjois rouge edition velvet

For me, Spring always comes along with bright colours and pastels.  So it's bye bye to the deep red and berry lips and hello to brighter shades; enter Bourjois rouge edition velvet in Hot Pepper.

These liquid lipsticks have got the whole gloss to matte formula down to a tee.  They apply smoothly with an easy doe foot applicator, are very pigmented and set in a minute to a matte finish that DOES NOT BUDGE!  I wore this for a whole day, through a few meals and by the time I got home it was still noticeably there, inside my lipline and not on my teeth.  Yes, it may have faded a little bit but nicely so, it was still evenly pigmented and just looked a little sheerer.

The texture of this is not what I am used to, it feels almost balmy when applied and then drys so that it feels as if you are wearing nothing at all which I really love.

Hot pepper is a bright orange toned red, a shade I have been wanting for a while now.  But if you don't fancy that there is a more neutral red, a bright pink and a few almost-nude shades which are a bit more 'meh' in my opinion,  I would defiantly opt for the brighter ones.

At £8.99 each they are hardly the most expensive product out there but maybe not best for those on a tight budget.

I highly recommend these to anyone looking for a bright, matte lip that stays all day!

spring clean: the favourites

Here in England, the sun has started to shine and spring is here at last!  I have been doing a bit of a makeup spring clean and have found all of those lovely bright colours that have been stowed away during winter, they are making a comeback!

Goodies from Italia + photos

So, if you read my most recent post, you might have picked up on the fact that last week I was in Italy!

It's somewhere that I have always dreamed of going and when an opportunity to visit popped up at school, I didn't have to think twice!

review: Rimmel Glam eyes HD - Brixton Brown

Sorry for the lack of posts over the weekend, I have been away in sunny (not-so-sunny) Italy for the week without any wifi!  I thought I would introduce you to one of my favourite palettes. Say hello to the Rimmel glam eyes HD eyeshadow palette in 'brixton brown'.

mad for matte.

Recently quite a few matte products seem to have been jumping into my collection and I can't help but say, I'm loving it!