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

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade | REVIEW

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade | REVIEW

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Brows are one THE most important part of my makeup routine. Unfortunately, I am one of those people who suffer with sparse brow hairs; therefore, they are difficult to shape when I get them waxed whilst further costing me an eyebrow tint for the beautician to ever SEE the hairs they need to wax. 

Finally, after many years of trying out awful brow pencils and powders, I have at last found the formula to satisfy my brows righteous needs...

Formulation - The highly-pigmented formula aids smooth application onto the brows - the creamy texture allowing the product to glide with ease. Also, the 'gel' is thick so a little product goes a long way; realistically, one dip covers one of my brows.

Colour - Not being able to buy Anastasia in England is such a pain when choosing colour matches. Therefore, I tentatively trusted Google Images to supply me with the correct colour match. To my luck and fortune, I succeeded and the shade 'Chocolate' matched my brows perfectly. This shade is slightly warm toned, complimenting my pale/ivory complexion. Finally, it is simple to create the gradient effect (dark to light from ends to where the brows meet) - all you need to do is apply more product onto the end of your eyebrow.

Angled 12 Brush - This brush has saved my life; it gives me ultimate precision when crafting my eyebrows, simple application due to the thin bristles and angled shape, and accompanied with a spooly to help tame those annoying stray hairs!! I would 100% recommend picking this up along with the Dipbrow Pomade. I totally plan on purchasing one for gel liner too. 

Sorry for the cringey selfie, but this is what the product looks like on my brows.

Have you tried the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade? What is your holy grail brow product?

Lots of love

Winter to Spring Makeup Transition

Winter to Spring Makeup Transition

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When a new season comes around, it is absolutely vital that I alter my makeup bag to fit the appropriate weather/theme. In Spring, I can't help reaching for all my favourite pastels, pinks and shimmers. Here is what you are most likely to find in my makeup as we change from Winter to Spring...

Although I'm a sucker for full coverage foundation, I can't help opting for this incredible BB cream from Garnier. This leaves my face feeling light, even and fresh - the smell is an added bonus, it reminds me of being on holiday!! The lightest shade matches my skin colour perfectly too; I always seem to be paler than pale after undergoing the cold Winter. 

When it comes to complexion, I'm not one to go for intense contour and excessive highlight in the Spring, unless I'm going out in the evening of course. To create a more subtle bronze/contour, I use L'Oreal's Glam Bronze Eau De Soleil for slightly definition. The formulation is very liquid-y and can be messy, so be careful otherwise it will go everywhere - TRUST ME!!!

Jasper Rose by Bourjois is the one to go for if you like pink, rosy cheeks like myself. The powder formula is highly pigmented so you don't need to apply more than two strokes onto your cheek to create the desired effect.

Finally, face-wise, I'm into dewy highlight; Rimmel Wake Me Up Shimmer Touch in Flush of Pearl is supposedly a great dupe for Benefit's well-loved High Beam. The liquid formula forms a dewy, iridescent glow on the cheek bones which instantly draws sunlight. 

During this time of year, all of my pink-based eye shadow palettes come out the drawer and become much more utilised. Recently, I've been loving my Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette as it contains both winter/spring appropriate shades to take me from one season into the next. My fave shades definitely have to be Salted Caramel, Creme Brulee and Haute Chocolate.

 Also, I love to use my Bobbi Brown Pink Opal palette for a quick shimmer on the lid - this can add a glitz to your makeup if you don't have time to go create a whole eye look. This would also work as a beautiful, pink-toned highlight!

Finally, my Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP gives the perfect base for a Spring eye shadow look. I cannot stop using it throughout the season, whether I'm wearing eye products over the top or not!

Leaving the best till last...LIPS! Pink seems to be a running theme in my posts whenever Spring hits us... Anyway, Mac's lustre finish lipstick in Lovelorn is essential in my makeup bag throughout this time of year. Pink lips are so feminine and really lighten my complexion; this blue-toned pink also makes your teeth look insanely white.

In the warmer months, I like to delve into my lipgloss collection - I have such lovely shades but am always hesitant to use them in the Winter, as the wind just blows my hair onto my lips and it is a NIGHTMARE. Urban Decay's beautifully encased LIAR lipgloss is part of the infamous NAKED collection - the colour is less dramatic than the lipstick so would work for those who are tentative at wearing vibrant colours.

Don't forget to check out my Winter to Spring Fashion outfits post! 

What products do you always reach for at this time of year? What is your go-to Spring lipstick?!

Lots of love

Warm Neutral Eyes with Born Pretty

Warm Neutral Eyes with Born Pretty

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Like most people in the beauty world, I am an obsessive freak when it comes to palettes - I just can't get enough of them! Without question, I will continue to hoard them for the rest of my life, despite owning ever shade of browns and coppers under the sun. 

Without further ado, I would like to introduce you to the most affordable, yet incredible, neutral toned eye shadow palette from 'Born Pretty'. Born Pretty is an online company that sells pretty much anything under the sun, you name it... Watches, Garden Decor, Clothing, Tablets! However, I am, like every beauty fanatic, instantly drawn to the makeup section and couldn't believe the prices. This palette retails for the equivalent of £5 in the UK - how insane is that?!

Encased in a sleek compact, this 15 matte shade colour palette is the perfect product for any of you makeup beginners. Matte shades are perfect for those just starting with eyeshadow; they are usually easier to blend/work with and give a gentle subtlety to a look. Also, warm tones work so well and a popular favourite all over the beauty world - I don't know a single person who doesn't love a taupes and brown hues on the lid or in the crease. 

On swatching the eyeshadows, I couldn't quite believe the intensity of the pigmentation in each and every shade. With a single swipe, my finger was covered in rich colour - something you can't find with most drugstore/affordable shadow palettes. If any of you would like to see these shades swatched, then don't forget to comment below and I will be sure to upload some swatches onto my social medias (twitter, instagram & facebook >>>).

If you would love to purchase one of these fabby palettes or some other cheap makeup that's up for grabs, you can use this coupon code (giving you 10% off your overall order) MTH10.

Lots of love

Why I'm Obsessed Makeup Palettes...

Why I'm Obsessed Makeup Palettes...

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When admiring my new dressing table and makeup collection the other day, I suddenly acknowledged the ridiculous amount of palettes I've gathered throughout my years of makeup hoarding. Thus, I've brought a post to you today dedicated to my beloved compacts and why they are such an important part of my makeup-revolved world...

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette

High end up eyeshadow palettes have invaded my entire makeup collection over the past two year, and has been ever-growing since. Through experience, I have personally found Urban Decay to hold the best high end shadows - great pigmentation, incredible colour range, multiple palettes, fab lasting power and overall look. I cannot get enough of UD's shadows and will continue to repurchase. 

Nars Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Cheek Studio Palette, Makeup Revolution Blushes & Urban Decay Naked Flushed (STREAK)

Post-eyeshadow-palette-craziness, I became introduced to the wondrous face/blush palettes in both the drugstore and highend brands. I'm in love with my Nars Steven Klein palette - the contour shade is an absolute DREAAAAAM to blend and the multiple blush shades are perfect for travelling. I also love the affordable palettes - e.g. Makeup Revolution have some fab palettes you should try if you haven't already. Their blushes are super pretty but insanely pigmented - so watch out when applying!!

Dior Sundeck , Bobbi Brown Pink Opal and L'Oreal Marron Glace

The smaller compact must no go a-miss. I love the little eyeshadow palettes you can get, both luxury and affordable. These three lil palettes completely summarise my eyeshadow go-to's; I'm a sucker for bronze/browns all year round, pinks in the spring/summer and orange tones in the winter. 

Why do I love all these palettes so much, do you ask? Well, they are simply four main reasons. 1 - I adore how versatile they are, they can hold an endless array of colours perfect for any occasion. 2 - If you are indecisive, like myself, you can just take 12423423 blushes with you in case you can't decide spontaneously. 3 - Cosmetic palettes inspire me to change my daily makeup routine - the variety of shades you can get in one palette allows me to alternate my looks on a regular basis so I'm getting full use of my makeup collection. 4 - Like the majority of beauty lovers, compacts are travel friendly so you can't have enough. They can really save so much space in your bag, a definite beauty need.

What's your favourite beauty palette? 

Lots of love

Crazy Feather Lashes with FeverCollection

Crazy Feather Lashes with FeverCollection

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Recently, I've been thinking about how unadventurous I am with my makeup - even when I'm just messing around in my room in the evenings creating various looks on myself. To get one of the classic New Years resolutions into action ("try new things"), I decided to venture out on the lashes front and teamed up with Fever Collection to show off their stunning array of whacky eyelashes. 

Accompanied with a handy adhesive, my pair of Black Feathers With Plume Lashes popped through my letterbox on Tuesday morning. I was so excited to receive something so unique to my lash collection and know I will be in for so much fun when wearing them. The soft, black feathers ascend in size from the inner to outer corner, framing the eye in a sultry, and pleasing, way. I hope that some day I will be confident enough to purchase a couple vibrant-coloured ones incorporate in a crazy makeup look. 

During this year, I just hope someone I know throws a 1920's themed party so I can dress up in Charleston attire and apply these beautiful lashes - I feel they would bring so much to the outfit and totally fit the era. Also, they would be perfect for any Halloween related makeup looks - especially for bird characters, like the Black Swan. I will definitely be featuring these lashes in a tutorial this Halloween, so if you're still around then don't forget to stop by! 

Finally, don't forget to check out the amazing costume range available at Fever Collection - they have extremely inexpensive outfits for dress-up occasions.

Lots of love