Charlotte Tilbury Favourites

Charlotte Tilbury has got to be up there with some of the best brands for lipsticks. I absolutely love them and they have been a staple in my makeup bag for many years.

I have three lipsticks which are my absolute favourites of hers and I’ve included an image of three swatches on my arm so you can see what the shades are like.

1) ‘Secret Santa’

I received ‘Secret Santa’ at Christmas as a present from my sister and I was made up, I feel like it’s a perfect shade for the Winter but can also add a bit of something extra to a Summery outfit as it is so bright.

2) ‘Very Victoria’

I’d say this was a very close shade to Mac’s ‘Velvet Teddy’ as it’s a dark nude. I tend to wear this shade on nights out to add a bit more to my makeup look as it can make your makeup look a lot more dramatic. I also feel like my lips look fuller when I wear this lipstick.

3) ‘Bitch Perfect’

Saving the best for last, this is my favourite of the three and the one I reach for everyday. It is a peachy shade which I think suits my pale skin the most and it is also the most suitable for an everyday look as it isn’t too dramatic but ties the makeup look together perfectly.

(Secret Santa is first on the left, then Vey Victoria in the middle and finally Bitch Perfect on the right)

The lipsticks, at £24 in most UK stores can be seen to be a little bit pricy, especially when comparing them to Mac’s prices however the packaging, the way the lipsticks feel when you put them on and the long lasting colour make them definitely worth it.

Q: If you were to buy one of these three shades, which would it be? Also, which other shades do you recommend?

Much love xox

Favourites: May

I honestly can’t believe that May is over already- this year is going far too quickly. This month has been both bad and good for many different reasons- it’s definitely not been the best month for blog posts due to exams being so close. However, I’m still going to share with you guys my favourites of this month!

Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Clay Mask

My skin has been playing up massively this month and this mask has just been amazing. Whenever my skin feels sore or my blemishes are really noticeable then I will put this on and it helps to calm them and it feels like it gives my skin that extra cleanse that it needs.

Clinique moisture surge extended thirst relief

This has quickly become my favourite moisturiser! It just works so well with my dry skin-I use it every morning and night and I also use it just before I apply my makeup. The moisturiser gives my skin a glow which it has never had and it makes my skin look so much more healthier. I recommend this moisturiser to everyone!

Sì Eau de Parfum by Giorgio Armani 

I’ve already done a blog post on my favourite fragrances so check that out if you want a more in depth look at why this is my favourite perfume. I just had to mention it in my favourites as this month I have especially been reaching for this one in particular and it just smells incredible, I love it!

Batiste Dry shampoo

Dry shampoo has been my life saver this month. With the amount of work I’m doing I haven’t made the effort to properly wash my hair which results in it getting greasy so much quicker. The shampoo just helps to give me an extra day before I have to wash my hair and that’s helpful when I’m so busy.

 

 

Geordie Shore (Big Birthday Battle)

I love Geordie Shore, I’ve been watching it for years as I just find it so funny and it’s so interesting to watch how everyone has changed over the years and fall in love with the new housemates which come in each year! But this time around I have loved it that extra bit more, as all of the housemates (well, minus a few boring ones) have entered back into the house and it’s so lovely seeing all of them living together again and it provides so much more drama which is amazing!

Catfish and the Bottlemen

Whilst I’ve been doing work, I have loved nothing more than being able to listen to CATB- I just love the sound of this band and their songs are some of my most favourites. I also love how I can play their music at any time and they can have a totally different effect, whether that’s helping me to relax  or helping me to wake up in the morning when I’m half asleep!

 

The Elemis products that changed my skin

Elemis is my favourite skincare brand, which some of you may have gathered by now as I never stop going on about it! But, it is just sooo good and their products work so well with my skin. I have many of their moisturisers, cleansers, creams and exfoliators but I recently bought the ‘Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash’ and ‘Papaya Enzyme Peel’ due to the amazing things I have heard about them and the woman on the counter telling me it will be perfect for what I was looking for.

If you have checked out my other blog posts, you’ll know by now that my skin is very dry and I suffer from acne which resulted in my skin having scars which are so red and obvious that it was impossible to cover them, even with very high coverage foundation. However, these products have changed my skin forever- they are resurfacing products which means that they are taking the top layer of your dead skin off and reducing the look of scars and acne while leaving you with the smoothest and silkiest skin ever (no joke!)

Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash

I use the facial wash every night after using my normal chamomile cleanser and leave it on for a few minutes before removing it with a face cloth. It may tingle if you have very sensitive skin so just keep it on for however long you feel is necessary. This product is my favourite out of the two as I can really see the difference every night that I use it- before this, my skin was dull and dry but this has totally changed that- the dry patches are gone and my skin looks so much brighter, leaving me looking more awake and I couldn’t be happier!

Papaya Enzyme Peel

Once a week I will use the enzyme peel after the wash in order to give my skin a good exfoliating and cleanse. This smells amazinggg and really feels like your at the spa getting a facial- it is similar to an exfoliator in the way it works however it feels like a moisturiser which is perfect for those with sensitive skin as it isn’t abrasive and therefore it won’t leave you with red/sore skin. I leave this on for around 8 minutes and then wash it off with warm water and a cloth.

My skin has never looked or felt better- the products haven’t totally changed my skin and made an amazing drastic change but it has got me half way to achieving the perfect skin I crave for! I really recommend that you check these products out for yourself!

 

Price for the face wash – £30       (www.Elemis.com)

Price for the enzyme peel- £32    (www.Elemis.com) 

Pro’s:

• Leaves your skin feely ridiculously smooth
• Makeup applies so much better after using these two products
• They both smell amazing which is always a positive
• Leave your skin looking revived and brightened, perfect for those with dull skin
• Not like other resurfacing products- don’t hurt your skin or make it red/swollen

Con’s:

• Can be quite annoying having to wait in order to remove it (not good for when you’re shattered and need sleep)
• Can see the peel running out soon, not much product but still expensive

 

 

Favourites: April

I feel like April has been and gone quicker than any other month, which isn’t great as I am getting closer to my exams in Summer and I still have so much work to do! As I have been doing so much work, I’ve barely done anything interesting or bought anything new this month, however I’m going to share with you those products which I have been constantly reaching for.

Beauty:

• Too faced ‘Born this way’ foundation

This was probably an obvious favourite of the month due to the review I did on it in a previous blog post ( Review: Too Faced ‘Born this way’ foundation) If you want a more in depth look at why this is my new holy grail foundation then check that out and you will see why!

 

• Nars Copacabana highlighter stick

I love Nars products and I’ve seen so many great reviews about this highlighter in particular and now I see why. I chose to get the stick product as I thought it would give me easier application and I am happy I got this instead of the liquid formula. This is my favourite highlighter to use and I have been using it so much more this month as we’ve had more sunny days and therefore it gives me a nice glow!

 

• Body Shop lighting drops

I love these lighting drops- they work so well as they don’t change the consistency of the foundation but create the perfect shade you’re looking for. It completely tones down my orangey toned foundations which is exactly what I needed due to my pale skin. Those of you who struggle with getting the right shade of foundation- buy this now!

 

• Dior Addict Lip Glow Liner

I recently bought this lip liner but I have used it everyday since I got it and that’s why I had to put it in my favourites for this month. The lip liner brings out the pinky tones of your lips depending on your natural lip colour and it also creates the perfect base for any lip product to go on top of. It smells minty and gives you that tingling feeling when it’s applied which creates a plumping affect. I really love this as it looks so natural but completely changes the look of my lips and my lipstick stays on so much longer when I use it!

Others:

• Greys Anatomy

I am OBSESSED!!! I have always seen odd episodes of the show because my sister has watched them all in the past but I have never watched properly until this month. I started it at the beginning of the month and have finished 10 seasons with 23 episodes in each so far- it is just so addictive and one of the best TV series I have ever seen. I probably shouldn’t be watching it so much as I have exams which I need to be revising for but it’s just SO good. Christina is my favourite character, I’m so emotionally attached to her it’s crazy! Have any of you seen it?

 

Are any of our favourites similar? Let me know!

Liebster award nomination

I’ve been nominated by Emily to do this tag, where she set out some questions that I need to answer. I’m so happy she tagged me as I feel like this will give some of you the chance to learn a little bit more about me! Thanks Emily!

The rules for this tag are:

1. Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you
2. Display the award on your blog
3. Answer a set of 11 questions provided from the blogger that you were nominated by
4. Nominate 11 bloggers, each with under 200 followers
5. Create your own set of questions for your nominations to answer

 

My answers:

1. What’s your favourite ice cream flavour?

My favourite ice cream flavour is chocolate, however I love neapolitan (Strawberry, Chocolate and Vanilla all together!)

2. Water? or Fizzy pop?

Fizzy pop, I love the drink Fanta fruit twist!

3.What are your 3 top fears?

To be burgled when I’m home alone (is that a good answer? who knows), Spiders and dying alone. Bit depressing, I know…

4. Are you a sweet or savoury person?

Sweet 100%

5.What is your favourite book?

‘The Island’ by Victoria Hislop- mainly because I’m obsessed with Greece and it’s based there

6. Do you prefer to write in pen or pencil?

Pen, I hate writing in pencil

7. Why did you start your blog?

I started my blog as I love to write. I also wanted to share my opinions, give advice and tell people my own experiences and hopefully see it as a way to make friends!

8.How many siblings do you have? If none, would you want any?

I have one sister, who’s older than me. Even though I have an older sister, I would love a baby sister too because I love babies and children!

9. What 2 things do you like about yourself an why?

Ooo this is difficult… maybe that I’m always true to who I am? I won’t be friends with someone if they have done me wrong just because they are ‘popular’ or because I want to get by, I’ll always be real and do what I want no matter what others do. Maybe thats a bad and good thing about me! Second thing would probably be how I’m always there for my friends, no matter what- I’m always there for anyone and everyone really, even if I don’t know someone and they asked me for help I’d be there to listen and give the best advice I could and be there for someone to talk to. So, if anyone needs someone to listen or to talk to, I’m here and I love meeting new people so talk to me 🙂

10. If you could be any animal what would you be?

Probably a dog- that’s quite boring but all they do is sleep and that’s all I want to do rather than study for exams haha!

11. What is your favourite chocolate bar?

Cadburys dairy milk with little pieces of oreo… mmm!

 

I nominate;

Cloudy skies blogging

These witty words I don’t believe

Pixie beauty bible

Demure ‘Denike

Ruby’s Cadence

Simply beautiful

I’m not sure who else to nominate as everyone has more than 200 followers but if you want to have a go then answer these questions:

1) What’s your favourite word?

2) What’s your go to lip colour?

3) Your favourite makeup product?

4) Who’s someone that you look up to?

5) Winter or summer?

6) Your favourite TV programme?

7) The best foundation you’ve ever used?

8) Do you enjoy blogging?

9) What made you start your blog in the first place?

10) What is the best advice you have to give?

11) What is the worst part about doing your makeup for you?

 

Have funnn😋

 

 

My Spring wishlist

I’m so happy that it’s now Spring- don’t get me wrong I love Winter and everything that comes with it but I always feel so much happier and upbeat when the sun starts to come out. It can be hard to find clothes in Spring which match British weather as you never know whether you’re going to be freezing and be soaked by the rain or whether you’ll be waking up to sun and bright blue sky. That’s why my favourite thing about Spring is all of the makeup- the dewy skin and the strong highlighter, with the pink blush and nude lips. I have picked a few items which I would love to purchase this spring, so if you fancy a nosey then here we go!

1. Hourglass: Ambient Lighting Powder

 

2. Bobbi Brown: Radiance Boost mask

 

 

3.Mario Badescu: Drying Lotion

 

 

4. Chloe: Drew cross-body bag

 

5. Urban Decay: Naked skin weightless complete coverage concealer

6. All saints: Plait balfern biker jacket

7. Huda Beauty lip contour

What are some of the things you are hoping to get this season? Let me know!

Review: Too Faced ‘Born this way’ foundation

A foundation that everyone needs to buy!!

I recently bought this as I was getting bored of my Nars ‘Sheer Glow’ and wanted to try something different. I had watched tonnes of youtube videos on this foundation and read many reviews online- everyone bar a few people said that it was their favourite foundation and that it was perfect for all skin types. I have very dry skin and this makes other foundations look cakey and just makes my skin look even drier when they’re applied, which I haaaate!

The ingredients are what sold me when I looked at the foundation:

• Coconut water- which is added to give your skin a dewy finish and provide your skin with the much needed moisture
• Hyaluronic acid-which gives you a smoother, more youthful finish
• Alpine Rose- which brightens your skin
• Oil free- useful for those who suffer from oily skin

 

Once I saw the words; Dewy, smooth, bright and oil-free skin along with the fact that it is medium to full coverage, I was instantly sold and it has quickly become my holy grail foundation! It’s perfect for my blemished, red and dry skin- the coverage is great, you can add so many layers without it looking too full on or cakey, meaning that it covers my spots and scars as well as providing moisture to my dry skin- making it the best foundation I have ever tried. I recommend it to everyone, even those who have oily skin as the fact it is oil-free will protect you from getting even more oily and shiny, so don’t shy away from it just because it says it has coconut water!

As the brand is American, I bought mine online from Debenhams and it came the next day. They have a wide range of colours online but not as wide of a range as the actual Too Faced website so if you need to buy from there, it will be shipped over to wherever you live. They also give a good colour chart on the original Too Faced website which made it easier to choose which colour I needed. I was going to get the shade ‘porcelain’ however it was out of stock on Debenhams so I got ‘Ivory’ which is shown below- it was hard to get a good picture as when the light was on the bottle you couldn’t make out the writing so I’m going to have to make do with this one!

The price I paid: £29 from Debenhams

Pros:

• Good for all skin types
• Good colour match
• Medium-full coverage, buildable without looking cakey
• Blurs most imperfections, making your skin look better than ever
• The packaging and the bottle is just the cutest thing

Cons:

• Expensive when you don’t know which colour you are
• I use quite a lot but this may be due to the fact that I want a fuller coverage

 

   

Review: Makeup Revolution palettes

The wide range of products, the dupes for expensive products and the fact that it is one of the cheapest brands in the drugstore, makes Makeup Revolution one of my favourite makeup brands at the moment. So many people are starting to jump on the brand which is making it really popular as everyone is starting to realise how good it is. A few months ago I bought these 3 palettes as I wanted to try the brand and see if it was really as good as the reviews were saying.

The ultra blush palette- Sugar and Spice

I love a good blusher, I think it makes your makeup look so much more put together and it is especially good if you are pale as it makes your skin look more alive. I absolutely love this palette and I mix up which shade I use everyday. The light baked blush is perfect for highlighting as it gives you a subtle glow, while the shade below looks so pretty on your skin when you have more of a tan. The palette is very pigmented and therefore it has lasted me a long time as you only need a little bit to make a big impact. All of the palettes come with a good sized mirror which is useful for when you’re on the move and want to do touch ups and they generally look like a palette which is a lot more expensive than it actually is. I recommend this to everyone, I am already looking into buying another palette- preferably the cream blushes as I want to see which wears better.

 

Ultra 32 Eyeshadow Palette- Beyond Flawless

I used this palette everyday that I wore makeup in Winter, the colours are so warm and they are perfect for a smokey eye while the orangey colours give your eye a pop of colour which I think goes well with my brown eyes. The fact you get 32 good quality eyeshadows for under £10, is just amazing. They blend well and are quite pigmented, although not as good as some of my more expensive palettes but I knew this before I bought it due to the price. I think this is the perfect palette for someone who is just starting to do eye makeup or someone who wants to add more eyeshadow shades to their collection.
 
Salvtion Palette- ‘What you waiting for’

I got this palette free with my other two palettes when I bought them from Superdrug, which is an amazing deal. I was made up with this as I now had 12 shimmer shades as well as another 6 matte shades. I use my finger to apply the shimmer shades as I feel like this is what gets the most pigment onto my eyes rather than using a brush. I love these palettes and I really recommend them to anyone who wants to try a new brand or wants to add more eyeshadow shades to their collection.

The Perfect Foundation Base

You could have an extremely expensive foundation, the perfect colour of blush and the strongest contour but nothing will come together without having the perfect base. I have very dry and acne prone skin which means I have dry patches and scarring with many blemishes- which is unbelievably frustrating! For me, I find it really hard to see all of these beauty youtubers with perfect skin and flawless foundation because that just isn’t reality to me- however, I have found a routine which works best for my skin and helps me to get the best foundation application that I can.

First, I start with moisturiser-I use the ‘hydra-boost day cream’ by Elemis. I love this moisturiser specifically for prepping my skin before foundation. I use a lot of Elemis products as I think they work the best for my sensitive and dry skin and this moisturiser is perfect for day time but I wouldn’t recommend it if you want extreme moisture, for example when you apply moisturiser at night. It’s great for the day as it’s not overpowering or thick but light and thin- it absorbs quickly and it leaves my skin feeling replenished and soft. I make sure this is thoroughly rubbed in before I do anything else.

Once all my moisturiser is soaked in, I will use my benefit ‘the porefessional’ primer. I love this primer as it makes your skin extra smooth and your pores look less visible- it also helps to keep your makeup on all day. As it minimises pores it means that your foundation is less likely to seep into them and therefore will give you are more polished finish.

The foundation I am using at the minute and have been using for the past 6 months or so is ‘Nars Sheer Glow.’ I think this has good coverage without looking cakey and it settles on your face perfectly giving your skin a smooth and brightened appearance. I apply this foundation with a beauty blender when my skin is looking a bit better than normal as I think it looks better this way but when I need full coverage I use a brush. One of the problems with having blemished skin and using this foundation when I’m having a bad skin day is the fact that it can be hard to layer without looking cakey and separating.

 

What do you use for your base before applying foundation?

 

Recent Purchases: Drugstore makeup💄

I love going shopping for makeup, there’s nothing better than seeing all of the new products and trying out all the new colours- then leaving with a sticky, multi coloured hand (that’s actually the most annoying thing about makeup shopping haha!) I went to Boots to pick up a green colour correction product and ended up coming out with two more products- I had to stop myself from coming out with the whole shop!

Products

1) Max Factor Colour Corrector- Corrects Redness (Green)

I bought this product due to the fact that whenever I put makeup on, no matter how much concealer or foundation I use- all you can see is my red acne coming through. I have used green correctors before but they just haven’t given me that good of a coverage. After a couple of uses, I can safely say this is the best correcting product I have used, it’s creamy and easy to use and it blends well.  It’s very high coverage in my opinion, which you can tell by the picture j have below. I really recommend this product,and it’s even better that it’s from the drugstore!

 

2) Benefits ‘the porefessional’ Primer

I have bought a number of primers over the years but I still always hear about this one and how good it is, so I decided it was finally time to pick it up. However, I only got the 7.5ml as I didn’t want to commit to the bigger size until I know if it actually works for me. I haven’t tried this product yet, but I will update my thoughts when I have used it a few times.

3) Revlon Colorstay lipliner in the shade ‘Blush’

Lip products are my thing. I love lipsticks, lip gloss and lipliners- you name it, I love it. My Spring lip colours are pinks and nudes and therefore, I thought I would pick up a nudey pink lipliner to create the perfect lip. It’s not as creamy as other lip liners I have used which effects how easy it is to apply but it does have the perfect colour that I was looking for and it is very long-lasting.