5 Simple Ways to Eliminate and Disguise Facial Impurities

5 Simple Ways to Eliminate and Disguise Facial Impurities

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Having a flawless complexion is something that us girl's dream about, day and night. Although we should, and are told to try, our uttermost hardest to embrace our imperfections, it is very difficult when you have a huge spot in the middle of your forehead. Personally, I am not very confident in my skin so I like to find tips and tricks to help me feel more comfortable in myself. Here are few things I do to help my skin feel clean and flawless!

1. I'm going to start with something I am 100% guilty of (as you can evidently tell from the images above) - CLEAN YOUR BRUSHES. Washing your brushes is such a simple thing that we all forget to do - I always delay chores like this because it literally takes me forever to wash and dry all of my brushes. However, by taking the time to clean your facial brushes, it can seriously help your skin. Oils and bacteria swiftly build up in your brushes over a short time frame and we all know what excess oil and bacteria leads to...SPOTS!

2. You've definitely all heard this before but maintaining a skin routine, personal to your own skin type, is beneficial when trying to eliminate impurities. Fortunately, I don't suffer with any extreme cases of spots or 'breakouts' but whenever a lovely spot forms on my face, it's HUGE! To try an avoid this as much as possible, I have a little routine consisting of cleansing water, eye make-up remover, cleansing lotion and moisturizer for my dry skin. Although I don't recommend this, I sometimes take my makeup off using wipes when I'm feeling lazy. There is no harm doing this but just make sure you have nights where you cleanse your face properly to avoid sleeping in makeup overnight. That is literally the WORST mistake you can make.

MY DRY SKIN ROUTINE

Firstly, I pour a small amount of Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water onto some cotton pads and remove the majority of my base makeup. Following this step, I use the Garnier Fresh Eye Make-up Remover to take off my mascara, liner and eyeshadow. After my face is makeup-free, I take my Skinology Cleansing lotion and apply a generous amount to my face - this helps to remove any excess makeup that might be deeper in the pores or that I may have missed. Finally, Garnier's Moisture Match for Normal/Dry skin is my ultimate dry skin saviour. I have non-stopped used this since the day I bought it. The creamy, smooth formulation is to die for and the smell reminds me of holidays!

(P.S This post isn't sponsored by Garnier, I just loooooove their skincare)

3. One of my favourite ways to disguise my spots is to smother my under eye circles and spots with  concealer. OK, maybe 'smother' isn't the right word but I can't help applying several layers of my two favourite under-eye concealers to hide the darkness. I highly recommend 'L'Oreal Lumi Magique' in light and Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat in '02' if you're looking to highlight dark circles. Their formulation is a dream, blending evenly into the right creases and areas on my face I wish to be disguised.

Alternatively, if I have more time, I like to use my colour correction palette from E.L.F Cosmetics. Usually, I apply the green concealer onto my cheeks. Green concealers are designed to neutralize red tones on the face and this seriously helps to minimize my rosiness. However, avoid using this on dark spots/areas as this can accentuate those areas, making them more visible. The pink concealer contrasts the green - wear this on dark circles or spots to gain coverage but not on areas of redness.

4. I guess this number 4 is sort of a hack? Cold metal is a great wait to counteract redness on the skin. Therefore, if my skin is particularly red, I place a spoon in the freezer and leave it for 10-15 minutes. This seriously helps to reduce the redness on my cheeks and it is such a simple and quick way to achieve an even skin tone.

5. My favourite of them all. If you are feeling unconfident in your skin or with a particular spot on your face, drawing attention to other areas is key. Personally, I love to use dark colours on my eyes or lips to accentuate them. Tip: Use your favourite facial feature to your advantage - whether it be your cheekbones, lips or brows - flaunt your most-loved feature by using makeup products to enhance them. I love to wear dark lips so above are my top 6 lips I switch between when my skin is being disastrous.

~Makeup Revolution 'Rebel with a Cause' ~ MAC 'Rebel' ~ Too Faced Melted Velvet ~ MAC 'Dark Side' ~ Makeup Revolution '100% Vamp' ~ Nars Audacious 'Charlotte' ~

What do you do to eliminate spots? What is your favourite skincare product?

Lots of love

Top 5 Beauty Products ¦ March 2016

Top 5 Beauty Products ¦ March 2016

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Over the first three months of 2016, I would like to say I am proud to be following through with one of my New Year's resolution - frequently changing the cosmetics in my makeup bag so that I utilise all of my products. However, this month these five items became staples in my everyday morning routine. In fact, I've been loving them so much I just had to tell you about them!

Also, this post is in collaboration with @BeautyandBrushesX from Instagram; don't forget to check out her top 5 current beauty products on her blog!

BRONZING

~ Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess ~

Since Christmas 2015, I have worn this on my face every single time I've applied makeup - and there STILL isn't a significant dent in the product. Hallelujah! This bronzing powder helps me to achieve a natural, luminous glow whilst defining my non-existent cheek bones. The warmth of the brown is very flattering on my dull skin and boosts the life in my, usually very sleepy, face.  A product I will forever repurchase and rave about!

~ Real Techniques Bold Metals Contour Brush ~

When it comes to makeup application, I always acquire the best brush for the job - I have made many a cosmetic fault by using my fingers or wrong brushes to blend in my early teens. Therefore, I find it vital that I find the best brush possible to apply product. For contouring, I finally got my hands on one of Real Techniques Bold Metals brushes - The Flat Contour. Contouring has been made simple with a brush that can evenly, and precisely, apply product in the hollows of your cheeks, along the jawline, nose and elsewhere. Oh, and it's rose gold - BONUS!

BROW DUO 

~ Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Chocolate & Angled 12 Brush ~

HOLY GRAIL BROW PRODUCT. My brows are a nightmare to work with - they are such a weird colour, my inner brows lack any hair at all and there are both completely different in shape. I know the old saying 'eyebrows are sisters, not twins' but mine are honestly not related. However, I have found something to cure my non-fleeky brow days - the Anastasia Dipbrow and brush. If you want to read more about my love for this product and how it has helped me, click HERE to find out more.

LIPS

~ Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in Bond Girl ~

On Valentine's Day, I was very lucky to spend the day in London and have a mooch around all of the makeup shops - something my boyfriend didn't like doing as much. In Selfridges, I managed to pick up my very first, and well-loved, Charlotte Tilbury lipstick in the shade BOND GIRL. This for me has been my go-to nude of the month. I don't usually wear pale, orange toned nudes as they completely wash me out, so this mauve/pink toned nude has been my March saviour. 

FRAGRANCE

~ Valentino Valentina Perfume ~

Finally, I have been reaching for my old fragrances - like Valentino Valentina - this month as they somehow bring back memories for me. I always relate smells to events/days in my past and I think it is such a memorable way to reminisce. This classy, feminine bottle holds deep white floral notes with inital sweet citrus bursts of berries. Perfect for the upcoming Summer months. 

What beauty products have you been loving this month? Have you tried any of the items I spoke about?

Lots of love

Top 5 Christmas Fashion Gifts for Men | Under £50

Top 5 Christmas Fashion Gifts for Men | Under £50

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1. Ted Baker Wallet & Cardholder Gift Set - £50.00

This gift set is perfect for guys looking for a smart way to carry around their cash and cards. Guys rarely change wallents on their own and often wait until they're literally FALLING apart, which not only looks rubbish but isn't a great way to secure you belonging on a night out. The Ted Baker leather set is made from real leather and includes gold text for the logo - really smart! There's multiple slots to store cash and store cards, plus the handy card holder that also forms part of the gift set is a neat way to leave the cash at home. The box looks great too and is easy to wrap.

Available from ASOS

2. Ralph Lauren 3-Pack Socks Gift Box - £42.00 

The classic Christmas gift for guys. But this time from a brand they love. This 3 pack collection of socks from Ralph Lauren is great for guys looking for a stylish start to any outfit. Made from 79% cotton, these feel super soft and certainly worth the price tag. Once again the gift box is also really stylish.

Available from Selfridges

3. Jack Wills Navy Polo - £39.50

This is a classic navy polo from Jack Wills - one of my favourite British brands. This is described as regular fit so I'd go a size down if your guy likes to wear slim fit tees like in the the image below. These are 100% cotton and actually really good value for less than £40. A guy can never have too many polos and these are also available in a wide range of colours and style. A must-have.

Available from Asos

4. Red Plaid Scarf - £18.00

Urban Outfitters is one of my favourite places for shopping on the high street for some exclusive brands. However, for this gift guide I've actually chosen on of their own brand products which is this awesome red plaid scarf. It's incredible value for just £18.00 but also great quality. It's made from acrylic so you're not going to get the same feel as a £100+ Ralph Lauren scarf (or the big brand name) but this still feels great and the red plaid pattern is super stylish for the winter months.

Available from Urban Outfitters

5. Penfield Conway Beanie - £30.00

Another pick from Urban Outfitters. This Penfield navy beanie is a mixture of acrylic and cotton so again you're not getting the best fabrics but for £30 this is as good as it gets in terms of quality and finish. The Penfield logo is also present on the folder cuff at the front. Teamed with one of Penfield's infamous jackets this makes the perfect Christmas gift.

Available from Urban Outfitters

~Guest Post by Matt Maidment~

Twitter : @mattmaidment

Email : mattmaidmentblog@gmail.com

Top 5 | Concealers

Top 5 | Concealers

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Hey guys!

So today I have decided to put together my top 5 go-to concealers, featuring 4 inexpensive blemish hiders and a slightly pricey one for those who love splurging on a good ol' highend face product. 

Collection Lasting Perfection (RRP £4.19) - Although this is the least expensive, I would say that this concealer has the best coverage over them all. When you first buy this, the formulation is creamy, blend easily, hides any redness and rids any dark under eye circles. The only issue is that the texture can become cakey on the face and very drying; it usually only remains creamy if you use the whole thing in less than a month. Personally, I would buy this if you are in need of a good under eye concealer but go for a more expensive one if you want to get longer use of your money.

Maybelline Instant Anti-age Erase Eye (RRP £7.99) - My latest concealer purchase is this little beauty. I have been using this for the past month and loving the results. I would say this concealer can last 2-3 months, so not too bad. Also, the formula is very creamy, thus won't cling to any dry patches on the skin. I have this in the lightest shade so it can also be good for slight and subtle highlight in the centre of the face.

Helen E Cover It (RRP £8.00) - Cover It has to be the one for those who love to brighten their under eye area. Unlike the Collection one, it doesn't give great coverage but instead brightens your under eyes so they are practically glowing! I always apply this, or a shade from my E.L.F concealer palette, before applying a coverage giving concealer.

NYX HD Photogenic (RRP £8.49) - The one for intense highlight definitely has to be the NYX HD Photogenic concealer - this is incredible for Kim Kardashian under eye highlight. I apply shed loads of this stuff on my dark circles when I've been getting little sleep or going to a party to help highlight my face. This concealer is also great for central highlight, so looks amazing blended onto the forehead, nose, cupid's bow and chin.

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat (RRP £25.00) - Although the packaging can get a little messy, like the Maybelline one, I love how easy the application is with this styled concealer. Little product is wasted, as all is pushed to the brush and it doesn't dry out as easy as the ones with plastic wands. My favourite things about this concealer is that it is very long lasting, remains on the face for the entire day, still holds highlight even when held with powder and makes my face looks so healthily radiant.

Let me know you favourite concealers in the comments below. I love trying out new concealers, espeically ones with extremely high coverage! Thanks for reading X

Love

Charlotte Xx