Recent Makeup Look: Neutral Smokey Eyes & Nude Lips

Recently I have been posting a lot of makeup looks on my Instagram. I love trying out new looks and mixing things up with my makeup when I have nothing better to do. My face routine is always quite similar however I like to go heavier on a night out, but the the thing I love most about makeup is eye makeup; eyeshadows, eyeliner, pigments, glitter - I love it all! 

I haven't had a night out in the past few weeks therefore I haven't had any opportunities to wear extravagant makeup so lately I have found myself walking around the house with pink glitter on my eyelids, kind of a waste of makeup but a great excuse to write a new blog post! 

My upcoming posts are going to be a more in depth description of how I created the looks posted on my Instagram. 

 This is the most versatile of the recent looks I have created, this eye makeup could be worn during the day if you prefer a bold look but personally this is something I would wear on a more casual night out. Of course I started off with my holy grail eye primer MAC 'Painterly' Paintpot but I wasn't sure what look I was going for when I picked up my brushes, eventually I decided I wanted to go for gold and brown tones so I opted for the infamous MAC 'Woodwinked' eyeshadow as I hadn't used it in a while and its a product that is often raved about. 'Woodwinked' is described by MAC as 'warm antique gold' its a lovely neutral shade which suits all eye colours. I then decided I wanted to darken up the look and use some matte shadows to create a really dark and smokey eye so I used two of the brown shades from my HD Brows Pro Eye & Brow palette to really blend and smoke out the look and I used MAC 'Soft Brown' eyeshadow as a transition colour. I finished off with a thick winged liner, a white eyeliner in the waterline and a brow bone and inner corner highlight. As for my facial makeup I stuck to my regular routine which you can find here. 

product list.

eyes

MAC 'Painterly' Paintpot 

MAC eyeshadow 'Woodwinked' 'Soft Brown' 

HD Brows Pro Eye & Brow Palette 'Dark Brown' 'Rich Brown'

MAC Pigment 'Vanilla' 

MAC Liquidlast Eyeliner 

MAC 'Snowed In' Technakohl Liner 

Barry M Lash Vegas Waterproof Mascara

face 

BH Cosmetics 10 Colour Camouflage and Concealer Palette

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder in Medium Plus 

Charlotte Tilbury 'Filmstar Bronze & Sculpt' Face Sculpt and Highlight

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek & Chic 'Swish & Pop' Blusher in 'Ecstasy'

lips

MAC 'Pink Treat' Cremestick Liner 

MAC 'Merh' Lipstick

look out for my next post for a glitter eye makeup look! 

More Recent Day Time Looks

 Below I have put together a selection of some of my favourite day time and casual looks I have wore over the past week. I've been loving mixings things up and creating new looks with my winter wardrobe but I've decided to put a stop to buying winter clothes now and I'm ready to start investing in my summer wardrobe!

 For more regular OOTD updates make sure to follow my instagram account. I also would like to mention that I have Depop account on which I am selling lots of clothes so make sure to check it out! 

Instagram - rosec_x

Depop - rosecraddock

All black everything - it has to be said!

I love this Kenzo inspired jumper from H&M I had to have it, I couldn't possibly say no to such a bargain. I paired it up with leather trousers and my good old thigh high boots.

embellished jumper - H&M 

faux leather trousers - H&M 

thigh high faux suede boots - Leggs Darlington

nudes, fur and denim.

I can't get enough of turtle necks, I especially love this nude one its such a great colour. My fur gilet was a Christmas present and it is from a boutique shop in Leeds. 

turtle neck jumper - Zara

fur gilet - 

jeans - Miss Selfridge 

shoes - River Island 

heels or boots?

This is one of my favourite outfits at the moment because I feel so comfortable and trendy at the same time. I love this off white jumper, over size jumpers have definitely been one of my favourite trends this season. Unfortunately the picture looks as if I'm wearing black leggings, they are in fact burgundy leather look leggings with panel details on the knee. I will add a close up of the leggings so you can get a better idea of the complete look. 

I posted this picture on my Instagram quoting 'heels or boots?' and the majority of my followers voted boots, which look do you prefer? 

jumper - Zara 

leggings - Zara 

bag - Louis Vuitton 

hat - H&M

heels - River Island 

boots - Zara 

Update: My Everyday Makeup Routine

I have decided to write an update on my step by step makeup routine based upon the products I use on a day to day basis. I wrote a post on this almost a year ago however I have since changed the products and techniques I use. I often get asked what I am using so here is a detailed description of what is currently in my makeup bag.

In this picture I am wearing all products listed below with my favourite easy go-to eye look; MAC 'Mulch' eyeshadow blended all over the lid, crease and lower lash line and my statement feline flick. 

Before applying any makeup I apply a moisturiser, I am currently using Nivea 'Light Moisturising Day Cream'. I always prefer my makeup when my face is tanned, I have a spray tan once a week but it fades on my face quicker than any other areas, so I will reapply the tan to my face half way through the week. 

Charlotte Tilbury 'Light Wonder' (Shade 8) - This is still my favourite foundation to date, if you have read my previous posts you will already know I love this product. Read my full review on this foundation here.

Real Techniques 'Expert Face Brush' - I use this brush to apply my foundation, I find that it blends foundation flawlessly leaving no brush marks or harsh lines. It is a fantastic brush to work with and my favourite from the Real Techniques collection, I always recommend their brushes because they are superb quality at very reasonable price. Read 'My Top 10 Makeup Brushes' post here.

BH Cosmetics 10 Colour Camouflage and Concealer Palette - This is a new addition to my makeup kit. I started using this a week ago and I love it. I am running low on my foundation so I have been using this as an alternative. On my first use, I applied the concealers over my foundation but I realised it is unnecessary to use any foundation if you want to create the contoured and highlighted look and this is the perfect palette to do so. The concealers are very smooth and creamy when they are warmed up on the skin, they blend beautifully and the range of colours is brilliant, the lightest shades have helped to cover the dark circles under my eyes and brighten the area and the darkest shades warm up my skin and give my face more structure and definition. I was worried the concealers would be too thick and look heavy on my skin as if I was wearing a mask of makeup but I have been so impressed with the results.  I would definitely recommend this palette because it is great value for money and so much cheaper and better than my small MAC concealer palette. Look out for an in depth post on how I contour and highlight with this palette. 

Real Techniques Core Collection 'Contour Brush' - I find that Real Technique brushes are multi purpose and I often find my self using them in different ways to what they are labeled. When using this brush I firstly apply a light concealer under my eyes with my finger to warm the product up making it applies smoothly, I then use this brush to flawlessly buff the concealer so that it blends in with my foundation or the darker concealer I use to contour. 

Real Techniques Core Collection 'Pointed Foundation Brush' - Up till recently I had never found a purpose for this brush but I now use it to apply the dark concealer in the areas I want to contour; my cheek bones, jaw line, temples etc. The pointed brush is great for marking precisely where I want to contour and create a shadow effect. I then buff in the product with the 'Contour Brush' and 'Expert Face Brush'. 

MAC Pro Concealer Palette (Medium) - I have been using this palette for over a year and it is something I have repurchased. I think this palette is great value for money because you are getting 6 quality MAC concealers for only £35.00 and I am a big fan of their concealers, they give good coverage and they are easy to work with but surprisingly I find that the BH Cosmetics concealers are an all round better product and much cheaper. I'm still using this palette but I don't think I will be repurchasing it for a third time. 

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder in Medium Plus - When I have applied all liquid and cream products to my face I use this powder to set them in place and take away any unwanted shine. If necessary I will reapply through out the day in the areas where my skin produces the most oil in particular the T zone. This is a good product, it is long wearing and the colour matches my foundation and concealers. 

Real Techniques 'Powder Brush' - I use this brush to apply setting powder. This brush is also good for applying bronzer in larger areas such as my neck and chest. 

Charlotte Tilbury 'Filmstar Bronze & Sculpt' Face Sculpt and Highlight - This is a new favourite of mine! This products works as beautifully as it looks. The bronzer blends effortlessly with my foundation, it really warms up my skin and creates natural shadows, giving my face more dimension creating those sculpted cheek bones we all lust after. I particularly love the highlighter it gives me a stunning golden glow. Read my full review on this product here. 

Real Techniques Core Collection 'Buffing Brush' - This brush can be used for different purposes but I use it to apply bronzer and to contour. 

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek & Chic 'Swish & Pop' Blusher in 'Ecstasy' - Since I started using this dreamy product I have put my MAC blushers to the side. Charlotte Tilbury has hit the jack pot again with this blusher and you can find out why in my full review here. 

Real Techniques Duo Fiber Collection 'Face Brush' - This brush was created for lightweight application which makes it perfect for dusting a little blusher on my cheeks and giving me a healthy pop of colour. 

HD Brows Pro Eye and Brow Palette - This palette includes 6 colours, there's a brow shade for everyone and the other powders can be used for eyeshadow. This was a great purchase I have been using it for a year now and I still have plenty of product left. This powder formula gives me high definition brows all day long. 

Real Techniques Started Set 'Brow Brush' - This is the perfect brow brush  its distinctive shape easily defines my eyebrows.

MAC Liquid Eyeliner - For me winged eyeliner is a must, it opens and brightens up my eyes and I feel bare with out it. I have almost ran out of this eyeliner and when I do I will be going back to MAC Liquidlast eyeliner because it is longer lasting and smudge proof. 

MAC 'Painterly' Paint Pot - I don't alway use this but it is a must before applying any shadow to ensure it lasts through out the day and I wouldn't consider using any other eye primer. 

Barry M 'Lash Vegas' Waterproof Mascara - Barry M must have changed the formula of their waterproof mascara and its just not what it us to be. All though this is the only waterproof mascara I have tried that I would actually consider waterproof because it doesn't smudge and leave black rims under my eyes, unfortunately I find it doesn't give me the length and volume it use to. I also dislike the packaging of this product I think it looks really tacky. Someone help me find the perfect waterproof mascara?

MAC 'Pink Treat' Cremestick Liner - This long wearing lip liner is the perfect match for my favourite lipstick and it works a treat with nude and neutral colours. The creamy formula glides on making application smooth and easy. 

MAC 'Merh' Lipstick - This is my absolute favourite lipstick it is the perfect matte nude/neutral colour for every day use. 

MAC Haul

Below I have put together my most recent purchases from MAC, unfortunately this haul has been delayed, I was hoping to have this up sooner as some of the products listed are no longer available to buy at MAC counters or online as they are part of their 'Objects of Affection' holiday collection. However I couldn't pass the opportunity to review and share my thoughts on these gorgeous products. 

'Objects of Affection'

Pink + Rose Pigments + Glitter

Heritage Rogue, Rose, Tan, Whisper Pink, Reigning Riches

Last year I bought 2 sets of MAC pigments and I have used them over and over again so I couldn't wait to get my hands on some more at the end of last year. This product was an absolute must have for me, I paid £26.00 for 5 stunning pigments where as before 1 have paid £17.00 for only 1 pigment - which of course is bigger but pigments last forever because only a very small amount of product is needed with each application. 

I chose to go for the Pink + Rose selection because the colours are beautiful and unique and unlike what I already own and also reddish-pink tones are some of my favourite colours to use on myself because these shades really compliment my green eyes and make them pop. I've been loving creating glitter smokey eyes lately, which you may have seen in my previous post and this set includes a soft copper glitter which I can not wait to try out! 

 Like most MAC products the quality is fantastic and very much worth the money. So far I am very impressed and I am looking forward to creating some new and daring eye makeup looks with these fabulous pigments.

These swatches have been heavily applied with MAC Fix + Spray 

(Left - Right) Heritage Rouge, Rose, Tan, Whisper Pink, Reigning Riches

Nudes + Red Lipgloss 

Love Alert, Dynasty At Dusk, Delight, Paper Lantern

I don't usually buy lip glosses as I prefer to wear lipstick all day/every day but when the opportunity arises to buy 4 MAC lip glosses for £26.00 I'm not going to turn it down. MAC lip glosses range from £13.50 - £19.00 so this kind of bargain cannot be looked upon.

This set includes 1 'Dazzle Glass' and 3 'Cremesheen Glass' lip glosses. I chose to go for the Nude + Red lip glosses because these colours are the most similar to the neutral and nude colours I usually wear (barring the red lip gloss). I'm very happy with the colours I chose and they look gorgeous worn individually or glossed over some of my favourite lipsticks. One of my new favourite MAC lip combinations is; 'Pink Treat' Cremestick liner and 'Merh' Lipstick with 'Delight' Cremesheen lip gloss. This purchase is also a great addition to my makeup kit and I'm sure any lip gloss I don't use on my self will be suited to some of my clients. 

(Left - Right) Love Alert, Dynasty At Dusk, Delight,  Paper Lantern

New Lip Products

'Brave' Lipstick 
This lipstick was absolutely free because I used the Back 2 MAC scheme; recycling 6 empty containers through MAC to get a free lipstick in return. 
I am running low on my current go-to MAC lipstick 'Merh' but instead of repurchasing it so soon, I thought I would try something a little different. '
Brave' lipstick is a satin finish and the colour is described as 'Pink-beige with white pearl'. I like this lipstick but I have only worn it a couple of times and I am still getting use to it after wearing 'Merh' on my lips almost everyday for the past 3 months. These 2 lipsticks are very similar, 'Brave' is a great alternative for 'Merh' but is a slightly lighter, more pink colour. It is also much more moisturising which is a bonus as sometimes matte lipsticks can leave lips feeling dry, however I still prefer the look of matte lipstick and 'Merh' is still my absolute favourite! 

'In Anticipation' Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
This has been on my makeup wish list for a while and I finally bought it a couple of weeks ago. I use 'Pink Treat' Cremestick Liner daily, it is a very neutral colour that works with my nude lipsticks however I wanted a pink liner and MAC describe this colour as 'soft yellow pink'. I bought this to wear with some of my favourite pink lipsticks such as 'Chatter Box' and 'Candy Yum-Yum'. Up to now I have only used this liner once but I can say I was impressed, it is very pigmented, it glides on smoothly which creates an easy application and it is very long lasting - much better than a regular MAC lip pencil such as 'Dervish'. 

(Left - Right) In Anticipation, Brave

Celebrity Makeup: Kim Kardashian

Amongst other things Kim Kardashian is notorious for her flawless makeup, her perfectly contoured complexion and her sultry smokey eyes. She is a makeup icon, wether she does it herself or she is transformed by one of her talented makeup artists such as Mario Dedivanovic or Joyce Bonelli, everyone wants to recreate her makeup looks, which explains the countless Kim Kardashian makeup youtube tutorials.
Not only has Kims style evolved over the past year, her makeup has too, I would say her over all look is now more mature and sophisticated. We are seeing much less of the charcoal smokey eye as she is leaning towards bronze and brown shades, which I love! I have also noticed she has been using new lip colours as appose to her statement nude lip, lately she's been spotted rocking red, orange and berry lips and its no surprise that she pulls them all off! However one thing I'm certain Kim will never let go of is contouring and highlighting, since posting a picture of herself in the early stages of her makeup routine back in 2011, her contouring/highlighting technique has became so popular that almost every girl wants to know how to achieve the perfect sculpted and calved complexion.
Below I have put together some of my favourite Kim K makeup looks, the majority of these images are from 2014.

Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Haul & Review

 

Since falling in love with the Charlotte Tilbury 'Wonder Glow' foundation,  I have been dying to try out more products from her collection. I usually order my foundation from her website but on a shopping trip to Leeds in November I came across a Charlotte Tilbury counter for the first time in Harvey Nichols. I was so excited to finally be able to see all of the stunning makeup collection in front of me and I couldn't walk away empty handed. The Charlotte Tilbury brand is rather pricey so I have been optimistic about ordering any unfamiliar products online with out test driving them first. When I got to the counter I was greeted by a very friendly beauty consultant who helped me to find the right products for me. I finally received the makeup as a Christmas present and since then I have been trying them out, here are my thoughts...

 Christmas day 
(first time using products) 

 'FILMSTAR BRONZE & GLOW' (Face Sculpt & Highlight)

This product immediately caught my eye both online and at the counter. For me, this is a stand out and notorious product from the collection. One of the many things I love about this brand is the way Charlotte describes and tells a story about every individual product. Charlotte says 'This is a secret that silver screen sirens have kept to themselves for years - and once I share it with you - so will you!' and claims that this contouring kit will 'slim, sculpt, shorten, trim and highlight your features.'  She certainly knows how to sell a product! 

At the counter, the beauty consultant showed me how to use the product correctly; she applied the bronzer at the hollows of my cheekbones, my jaw line and temples. She then brushed the highlighter over my cheekbones and brow bones and lightly over the high points of my face. She applied both powders with the Charlotte Tilbury 'Powder & Sculpt' brush - which is now on my wish list. I was very impressed with the finished look and after trying many times to create a contoured look and carved cheek bones with other bronzers I never had results like this - I was sold. As for the highlighter, I have never been crazy about highlighting sometimes I think it can look very un natural and over the top, but the highlighter in this kit is stunning, it gives me a healthy glow and it blends beautifully with the bronzer and the blusher I use.

The bronzer is a universal shade, its matte with a very slight pearl shimmer, this blend is perfect for contouring and creating the perfect sun kissed complexion. The illuminating highlighter is gold based which Charlotte has created to flatter any skin tone. 

The two powders are encased in a glamorous Rose Gold palette, which looks beautiful on my dressing tables it looks to nice to be hidden in my make up storage. I can now say that I am in love with this product after using it a number of times, however I don't want to be running low anytime soon so I may stick to using it only on special occasions and nights out as it is on the pricey side at £49.00. The question is, is it worth the price tag? I would say yes! This truly is a fantastic product and if you are a makeup lover like myself you will appreciate its greatness.

'CHEEK TO CHIC' Swish & Pop Blusher in 'Ecstasy'

I have used MAC blushers for as long as I can remember and because they last so long and I tend to stick to the same shades I rarely buy a new one. However when I came across Charlotte Tilburys selection of blushers I thought I would treat myself and try something new. There is a small selection of powder blushers in the collection but there is something for everyone. 

Charlotte says 'When it comes to blusher, I'm always seeking to re-create that shimmering, youthful flush of excitement you get when you're in love - my clients and I call it the "love glow". I've spent many years perfecting this ultra-flattering look and now I've made it easy for anyone to achieve with CHEEK TO CHIC Swish & Pop Blusher.'

I usually go for a pink blusher, but this time I wanted to try something a little different and the great thing about this blusher is that you get 2 colours in 1! 'Ecstasy' consists of an exterior shade which is a warm coral/orange colour with a frost-like finish and an interior shade which is a pink/coral shade with a gold shimmer. The idea of this blusher is to combine the colours in a 2 step application; concentrating the exterior colour on the cheekbones and the interior colour on the apple of the cheeks. 

These blushers are so finely milled which makes for a silky and smooth application which blends beautifully on my skin alongside other products. The colour pay off is excellent, it gives me a natural and healthy flush of colour and and the shimmer in the product gives my cheeks an illuminating glow, I love the finish. I am happy with the wear time on this product, it seems to last for the time I wear makeup on a regular daily basis, however I do like to top up if I think necessary. 

The powder comes in sleek and practical mahogany packaging with rose gold detail and a handy mirror. 

This product sells for £30.00 and again I would say that it is worth the price because of its fantastic quality and I'm sure it will last me a long time as little product is needed to achieve sublime results! 

My Charlotte Tilbury 'Light Wonder' Foundation Review

www.charlottetilbury.com

Thank you for reading! 

Recent Day Time Looks

Firstly I would like to say I hope all my readers have had a lovely Christmas and happy new year to you all! As you can imagine I have been very busy over the past few weeks so I haven't had time to update my blog but I am glad to be back and I have lots of ideas for new posts which I am excited to share with you all. 

I've been buying lots of new clothes lately so I thought I would put together a selection of pictures focusing on my favourite day time looks from over the Christmas period. 

I am in love with my new trench coat I got from the Zara sale. I was bought a casual puffer style coat for christmas but I also wanted a more smart and dressy coat, so I was very pleased when my friend spotted this for me on a shopping trip. I am obsessed with the colour 'camel' it is so wearable and looks great with a tan. 

I'm wearing:

trench coat - Zara

turtle neck - Zara

jeggings - H&M 

over the knee boots - Leggs (Darlington)

bag - Louis Vuitton 

I finally bought my self a fedora hat and I've been wearing it religiously ever since, I love it because it is so versatile and easy to wear. Another item I have been loving this season is the jumper dress; they are so cosy and comfortable. This is something else which I have just picked up recently after struggling to find one that is the right fit but H&M saved the day again with with this cowl neck black number. 

I'm wearing: 

jumper dress - H&M 

hat - H&M

boots - Zara

This outfit incorporates some of my favourite trends from the autumn/winter season - the fedora hat, leather and nudes! I've had so much wear out of this leather skirt, it was a great buy, I get bored of wearing jeans on a daily basis, so a comfortable and versatile skirt like this is a perfect alternative. 

I'm wearing: 

turtle neck - Zara

sheep skin gilet - Joseph 

leather skirt - River Island 

boots - Zara

hat - H&M 

bag - Louis Vuitton