Recent Beauty Buys

Morphe Brushes 35N 35 Colour Matte Palette - I've had my eyes on this palette for a while after seeing it used on various YouTube tutorials. I am loving matte eyeshadows and this palette gives me so many options for eye makeup looks. There is a large selection of brown and tan shades, which are great for crease and transition colours, some of the shades can even be used for contouring the face. This palette is great value for money, the eyeshadows are well pigmented and easy to blend, there is slight fall out with the eyeshadows but this isn't a massive problem. I look forward to purchasing more products from Morphe Brushes. 

MAC Studio Fix Foundation - This is a foundation I used years ago but forgot about after trying other brands, I bought it again before my holiday in Ibiza, and have repurchased it since, I also purchased a selection of different shades to use on my clients, and I think it is a fantastic product to have in a makeup artist kit because it works well on so many people. Personally I find this product sits on my skin nicely, as long as I moisturise prior to application, If I don't moisturise it can feel quite drying on my skin, I would also suggest using a hydrating primer. If used correctly it does not look or feel heavy and it is longer lasting than any other foundation I have used. I use shade NC35, this shade usually works for most people with a tanned complexion, but make sure to get colour matched before buying. 

MAC Skin Base Visage - I bought this for my makeup artist kit, because I think it is important to use a primer on my clients to ensure their makeup lasts as long as possible. This is a universal primer so it works for all skin types. I've been using it on myself but I can't say I notice a massive difference in comparison to when I wear foundation only, but I haven't tested the difference so its hard to say how well this product works, however I always feel much better when I prep my skin properly and prime before applying foundation. 

MAC Fluidline in 'Blacktrack' - I bought this eyeliner for my makeup artist kit because it was a more practical product than my holy grail eyeliner (MAC Liquidlast Eyeliner). Personally I prefer Liquidlast eyeliner on my self because I find it is blacker, longer lasting and smudge proof. However the Fluidline eyeliner is easier to work with, any mistakes can be fixed with out the product drying too quick and it is really easy to move around in order to create the perfect winged eyeliner. I will repurchase the Fluidline for my kit, however I will also be repurchasing my old faithful Liquidlast for personal use.  

YSL Touche Eclat - This has to be one of the best selling beauty products of all time, it is a cult classic. My mam has used this for years and swears by it, but this is the first time I've had this product for myself. The dark circles under my eyes are something that really bother me - but that doesn't make me go to sleep any earlier, however I have found this product not only helps to conceal the awful shadows but also brightens and highlights the area, making me look more awake and healthy. I feel this product is quite a luxury to have in my makeup kit, I enjoy using it and will definitely be repurchasing. 

YSL Black Opium Perfume - I had been wanting this perfume for ages, it was the packaging that first caught my eye, I love the black and pink glitter theme, then after sampling it at the counter I loved everything about it, and last month I finally got my hands on it. I wear this perfume on an evening if I am going out or for special occasions because it is a strong perfume and maybe too heavy for daily use. Describing a scent is not my forte, so I found this description online, 'The hedonistic black coffee note of the original Black Opium scent is transformed into an ultra-luminous green coffee accord with a heart of Jasmine Tea on a sensual base of sensual Patchouli, white woods and musk.'

Garnier Marceller Water - I've decided I want to boost my skin care regime so I'm starting with ditching the face wipes and using Marceller water instead. I seen many good reviews about this product before I bought it and I have to say I agree with all the great feedback. The water removes all traces of makeup and excess oils and it leaves my skin feeling smooth, toned and glowing. 

Thank you for reading!

Black Lace & Leather

I created another look similar to this one in my previous post. This look reminds me of something Kylie Jenner or Khloe Kardashian would wear. I would say its a girly look with an edge and is the perfect casual-but-dressy look to wear shopping or for a day trip... preferably not in the winter. I'm loving distressed denim shorts and will definitely be purchasing a pair when the weather starts heating up. To finish off the look I added a leather jacket, which I think is a must have in every girls wardrobe because they just never go out of fashion 

jacket - Burberry

vest - Carolina Herrera 

shorts - One Teaspoon 

heels - Chinese Laundry 

bag - YSL 

Recent Beauty & Makeup Haul

Recently I have bought some makeup and beauty products which are all very new and exciting to me. I have been trying most of these products out over the past few weeks but some I have just bought today that I want to include in this post whilst they are new and fresh on my mind!  

MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance Illuminating Base (Radiant Yellow) 

This purchase was actually a mistake on my behalf, I pointed this moisturiser out to the MAC makeup artist thinking it was the 'Skin Base Visage' primer; both these products are in very similar packaging which I wasn't aware of. However I've been wanting to try some new face products and luckily I'm pleased with how this product works so it wasn't a complete a waste of money as it is getting used daily, I will just have to make sure to pick up a primer on my next visit. I use this as my moisturiser and apply it immediately before foundation, it brightens my skin and gives me a healthy glow. Although I see this product as more of a moisturiser it claims to 'hydrate and prime skin to improve foundation and powder  application' I must say I agree and I have noticed a difference in the outcome of my foundation, it blends easier, doesn't look cakey and is longer lasting. I have only used this with Kevyn Aucoin SSE but I am loving the combination on the two and is certainly competition for my beloved Charlotte Tilbury 'Light Wonder' Foundation. 

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer 'SX08' 

This is a multi-purpose product which can be used as a full coverage foundation, concealer highlighter or mixed with a moisturiser or facial oil for a tinted moisturiser effect. Buying this online was a risk but I heard so many great reviews I had try it for myself. I had no tester so I had to guess my shade with other bloggers comparisons to MAC foundation shades. It is pricey at £34.00 for only 18 grams and although I knew the product was going to be small I couldn't believe quite how small it was when it arrived. Luckily I am happy with the shade I chose, this shade was compared to a MAC NC 30 which is what I used to wear. 
When I first tested the product I wasn't immediately impressed, the consistency is a lot different to the foundations I usually use as it is a thick gel-like texture and very pigmented. However after playing with the product and trying different techniques of application I have learned to love this as a foundation and I am using it daily. 
Only a small amount of product is needed with each use as a little goes a long way and thats why it comes in a such a small package. As a foundation this works best applied to skin which is freshly moisturised so that the foundation can slip and blend easily.
 To apply I pick up a small amount of product and evenly distribute it on all areas of my face before blending it out either with a Real Techniques Stippling Brush or a damp beauty blender I bought off Ebay (I'm not paying £15.00 for the original beauty blender any time soon, a sponge is a sponge).
I love this foundation because it is so versatile, I can have a full coverage foundation for a night out or I can create a tinted moisturiser for a day time and either way I wear it, it is long lasting and stays in place. As a foundation it doesn't look cakey or feel heavy, my skin looks and feels flawless, fresh and luminous. 

YSL Palette Ombres De Jour (5 Color Ready-To-Wear)

When I clocked this limited edition palette I had to have it before it flew off the shelfs. The sleek and sparkly pink, gold and black packaging is to die for and so me! This is not a product hidden in my makeup storage, instead it is displayed on my dressing table alongside my other favourite luxury products. Inside holds 5 eyeshadows; 3 neutral shades, a shimmering black, a pop of pink and 2 small brushes. I love the ready-to-wear colour combination making this a great palette for on-the-go. This is my first time using YSL eyeshadows and I would say the formula is quite similar to Urban Decay eyeshadows but with less fall out. Personally I don't think MAC can be beaten for eyeshadows as they are so densely pigmented but I am happy with this purchase, I'm sure it will get lots of use and its always exciting to try new products, especially when they're this pretty.  

YSL Rouge Volupte 29 'Rose Opera' (Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick) 

I included this in my 'Luxury Makeup Wish List' post which you can find here. I have been admiring this beautiful lipstick collection for a long time but its took me all this time to buy because I always find myself getting carried away at the MAC counter buying MAC lipsticks and MAC everything! 
YSL have done it again with this stunning packaging and obviously I can't hide this one away either, its stood right next to my YSL palette on my dressing table. I opted for a pink lipstick for a change because I've been wearing a lot of nude and neutral shades lately. This is the perfect pink lipstick for me; its a medium pink with neutral undertones which I prefer against my skin tone rather than a pink with blue undertones. The formula of this lipstick is very creamy and moisturising so the lipstick just glides right on. It's very pigmented so only a little product needs to be applied for a full coverage glossy finish. 

Tom Ford Lip Color 04 'Indian Rose'

For a long time I have been dying to get my hands on some Tom Ford products but it is some of the most expensive makeup I have came across and I couldn't quite fathom spending £37 on a lipstick alone, but as usual I caved and bought the makeup... The only problem is now I want to buy more and I've got a holiday to pay for! But for now I will settle with this gorgeous lipstick in the shade 'Indian Rose' which is absolutely perfect everyday use. It has been compared to a popular lipstick by MAC 'Pink Treat'. It is a very neutral shade; a rosey-pink, almost like an amplified version of my natural lip colour. The formula feels light on my lips and is creamy and moisturising and the finish is opaque with a sheen. 

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner 'Junkshow'

Lately I've been loving glitter eye makeup so this eyeliner was a must have. There are 7 colours in this collection and of course I went for the pink with iridescent glitter. These eyeliners are a great and easy way to spice up a smokey eye, and take a look from day to night. The glitter glides on and applies smoothly and stays put for sparkling eyes that last all night. 

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil 'Perversion'

This eyeliner is blacker than black and stays put all day/night. The pencil glides on so smoothly making it perfect for use on my waterline which is what I specifically bought this liner for. 

MAC Technakohl Eyeliner 'Snowed In'

 I wanted a white/cream eyeliner to use in my waterline to give the illusion or brighter and more awake eyes. Unfortunately I haven't been impressed with this liner, its not very pigmented at all and doesn't show up on my waterline. This is definitely something I regret buying, next time I would like to try an Urban Decay white/cream eyeliner and hopefully it will be as impressive as their black eyeliner. 

In Extreme Dimension 3d Black Lash 

I have finally invested in a new mascara because I am so bored of my Barry M mascara - its only benefit is that it is 100% waterproof and smudge proof. On my last 2 visits to the MAC counter the makeup artists have asked me what mascara I am using, the first time I resisted buying but the second time the girl really sold this product to me. She said that it is completely smudge proof and it will separates all my lashes giving them length, volume and curl. She also said that if this product doesn't work for me I should bring it back for a refund which I think is brilliant but hopefully I won't have to do that.

MAC Eyeshadow 'Tempting'

I haven't bought eyeshadow in a while after spending most of last year buying eyeshadows to fill my MAC palette but after seeing a makeup tutorial with this eyeshadow I had to have it, after all my 'Mythology' eyeshadow is almost empty and I need to replace it with something. This colour is described by MAC as 'sinfully rich coco' - I'm not sure what that means but I would say its a bronzey brown with gold shimmer, a really gorgeous colour which I know I will be using a lot! 

Thank you for reading!

Luxury Makeup Wish List

I have posted makeup wish lists in the past but this time I thought I would do something different. As you may already know I love MAC makeup, but lately I have been wanting to experiment with some different brands which I haven't already tried. High end brands can be very expensive and sometimes I can't justify spending so much on a makeup item, especially when I can not sample a product before buying. However if I was to splurge out on any makeup products the following would be at the top of my list. I enjoyed researching products for this post so I am sure I will be writing an updated post in the future. 

Tom Ford Bronzing Powder in 'Terra' - Tom Ford is definitely one of the most pricey makeup brands I have came across but none the less I am dying to get my hands on their luxury products. At the top of my Tom Ford wish list is this matte bronzer, I have been seeing it a lot recently in magazines and blogs and I have heard some fantastic reviews. At £68.00 this may seem extremely over priced for a bronzer however it contains 21 grams of product which would last much longer than an average size bronzer. From the information I have gathered this bronzer seems very much worth the investment if you are a makeup junkie like my self.

Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'N' Kohl Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil in 'Bedroom Black' - After falling in love with Charlotte Tilburys 'Light Wonder' foundation I have been desperate to try more from her collection. I was shopping in Harvey Nichols in Leeds recently and was so excited to see there was a new Charlotte Tilbury counter which wasn't there on my last visit. I couldn't walk away with nothing so I chose some lovely products which I have to wait for because they are Christmas presents. Those products would have made it to this list if I didn't already own them so instead the next item I hope to buy from CT is her Rock 'N' Kohl eyeliner which I have seen her using in the majority of her Youtube makeup tutorials. This looks like a really great eyeliner, if I was to buy this I would use this to line my waterline, I am yet to find an eye pencil which is long lasting and this one sounds impressive and from the tutorials it looks like a product which is easy to work with. There are a selection of colours to choose from but my first choice would be 'Bedroom Black' because I think black eyeliner is a necessity and would work wonders with a smouldering smokey eye. 

Dior 'Rose Diamond' Highlighter - I first discovered this on Tanya Burrs Youtube channel and I have admired it ever since, however after including this in my wish list I did some more research and I realised that this product has actually been discontinued. I'm sure I could find a dupe for this highlighter but I must admit I'm not crazy for highlighting and I think that the correct eyeshadow can have the same effect. My main reason for including this in my wish list is because I have been wanting to try out some more Dior makeup and this stood out from the collection, all their products looks beautiful but I can't think of anything in particular I have heard rave reviews about, so I am going to do some research on their best sellers before I purchase anything.  

YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in 'Rose Opera' - Why wouldn't I want this lipstick? The packaging is to die for, I couldn't just throw it in my makeup bag I would have to have it on display on my dressing table. This lipstick has been at the back of my mind for a while now but I have a tendency to stray towards the MAC counter and save my self £10.00 on a lipstick. 

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer - I am forever searching for the ultimate product to conceal my dark under eye circles and I am yet to find it. This is another product that has been popping up on blogs and Youtube tutorials, I don't know a lot about it but I have seen it being used as an under eye concealer as well as a foundation and the coverage and highlight looks fantastic. The price is around £37.00 which is very expensive for a concealer but if I knew this was guaranteed to cover my loathed dark circles I wouldn't think twice about buying it. 

Tom Ford Lipstick in 'Spanish Pink' - Like I said before I am just dying to get my hands on some Tom Ford and 'Spanish Pink' looks like the perfect shade of pink which I haven't been able to find. The packaging is so slick and classy which is a seller for me but I must admit it would pain me to spend £37.00 on a lipstick, so if anyone is struggling to find me a christmas present, look no further. 

Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body -  The story behind this is that when Charlotte was working back stage at fashion shows and photo shoots, herself and other artists would mix foundation and highlighter together and apply the mixture to models to create the illusion of slimmer looking legs, a more defined decolletage and arms and an airbrushed finish. Charlotte then decided to create this product in the form of a fuss free roller ball which makes for quick and easy application. If anyone knows how to sell a product its Charlotte Tilbury, she described this product as the 'perfect way to cheat your dream body' and it seems that many agree as it has fantastic reviews and is used by none other than Kim Kardashian who said the product is 'legendary'. If its good enough for Kim its good enough for me. 

Recent OOTD

This is an outfit I wore for a night out recently and is something very different to what I would usually wear. I ordered this jumpsuit online and wasn't sure if I was going to love or hate it when it arrived, in the meantime I seen in hanging up in H&M and to be honest, it looked awful! H&M deliveries can take a while so it came about 2 weeks after I ordered it, I bought a size 10 which was too big and unflattering so I took it to the store to exchange for a size 8, which they didn't have in stock so I bought a size 6 which surprisingly fit me and looked much better. I think this boiler suit style jumpsuit is suppose to be a loose and casual fit but which isn't really my style, I prefer a tighter and neat fit. The colour is a khaki green which isn't a colour I would regularly wear especially on a night out, I usually wear quite bright and bold colours or something really girly. This is why I decided to spice it up a bit with my orange court shoes, which again I wasn't sure would work but I like the pop of colour they bring to the outfit. My jewellery was very basic I wore my gold YSL logo earrings which I am loving at the minute and a simple gold chain. For my makeup I went quite bold with really smokey bronze/black eyes and pink lips, I curled my hair with GHD's which I clipped back but later decided to let it fall naturally. 

jumpsuit - H&M

shoes - River Island 

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