(Partial) Birthday Haul!

This is the second haul I referred to in this post. These are actually some things that my friends picked up for my birthday (albeit not a full birthday haul). So what have we got...

L'Oreal True Match Foundation in W8

In all honesty, I should have done some more research on this foundation. I'd heard so much about it that I knew I wanted it but I was absolutely astounded by the shade range. There were so many and with the cool and the warm tones; I wasn't prepared let's say that! A few of the samples weren't there so I went with what I thought. It's on the darker end of the spectrum but as my face is always a lot lighter than my body, I'm hoping for the best. I'm trying it tonight with the stippling brush so I'll let you know if we have a match!

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

My aim is to slowly grow a Real Techniques army of brushes! I really do love them. However if you have any recommendations of a cheaper brush set I'd love to hear them as I need a few more eye brushes desperately. I chose this brush as I thought it looked interesting and I liked the sound of high definition results! However when I got it home, I realised that I had no idea what to use it for. Foundation, powders, cream products?? All three as it turns out! I tweeted Sam and Nic (the founders of the brushes) and Nic (@NixiePixi) responded saying that it was good for foundations, bronzer and powders, especially light coverage foundations like Mac face and body. Aisling (@covetedmess) from covetedmess.com (check out her blog, it's so professional looking and lustworthy!) also suggested to use it with cream products. Is there anything that this brush doesn't do?! Thanks for the tips ladies!

Rimmel Eyeshadow in Smokey Quartz

I've wanted this for a while but it's such a generic looking shimmery taupe, I've been putting it off. I finally caved on this trip and I haven't been disappointed. I've only swatched it so far but I really like the look of it. There was a little panic that I'd bought the same shade twice (there is a very similar shade in the Rimmel Smokey Brun Quad- see it here) however they're not identical thank goodness! To the naked eye they could be, but Smokey Quartz is slightly more brown.

Barry M Sugar Apple

I really like the ice cream, pastel nail thing going on and conversely, the neon trend. I picked up this pastel one and also its neon counterpart (in the other haul). I've been going in between them and nothing else. It's Sugar Apple's turn tonight!

Have you been shopping recently? Any recommendations for me?

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The Budget Concealer Trio

Now I'm not sure if you've noticed but this blog is primarily a budget beauty one (by primarily, I mean one high end Christmas gift has made it onto here). This is because I'm a student and I can practically hear my mum scolding me if I even venture to the more expensive end of Boots, let alone to the counters. I'm going to capitalise on this and explore the drugstore for you in the hopes of finding some gems. And believe me there are plenty!

What I'm sharing with you today is my concealer routine. These are the three products I use to hide my colossal bags, my 'one too many drinks' spots and all the rest of it!

First up is Collection Illuminating Concealer. What drew me to this is the illuminating part of it. I've got quite purple dark circles and they needed something more than just covering. This is a light concealer that brightens under the eye perfectly. It also has a peachy tone to it that cancels out my bags. I tend to use this as more of a correcter so will apply this lightly and then go in with a second concealer. The one I'm currently using is the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. Depending on the heaviness of my make up, I'll either dab this in my inner eye for a little bit more coverage or go all out with the classic highlighting triangle below my eye. Plenty has been said about this concealer but it is quite heavy so do be careful of that. I like to put it on the back of my hand and then dab it under my eyes for a less cakey look. Finally I finish with my Rimmel Stay Matte Power in Transparent and Real Techniques Contour Brush (it fits perfectly under the eye!) to set it all and ensure no movement!

I'd love to hear your favourite concealers. I'm a bit of a concealer junkie. I'm looking at the Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer next! Looks amazing with the little sponge on the end.

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November Favourites!

I would start all my favourites like this if you guys wouldn't get bored: how is it the end of November already?! I seriously feel like I've just started university again and now I'm on holiday in two weeks. It's crazy. Necessary 'time going too fast' moan over. Here's what I've been loving this month.

I've been really toning down the amount of make up I've been wearing recently. Partly because I'm back at university and I need as much time in bed as possible and partly because I really like how it looks.

Real Techniques Buffing Brush- link- This brush needs no hype, it's just perfect. Nothing buffs foundation or concealer into my skin like it. I'm sure it's featured in another one of my favourites (oops, it's been in more favourites than not!) so I won't harp on about it. Basically it's brilliant, buy it!

Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil in 011 Sable Brown- link- This is a trick I nicked from ViviannaDoesMakeup. Little bit of this eyeliner smudged over the lids makes you go from 'just woken up' to 'I spent at least 10 minutes on my eyes' in about five seconds. I've been reaching for this loads this month because I have had little time for eye shadows in the morning.

Soap and Glory Super Cat  Liqiud Black Eye Liner Pen- link- I've only just realised that a cat flick makes my droopy eyes look more awake. I can't believe it has taken me this long to figure it out! When I've had time and/or patience, I've been giving that a go. I can't say I'm a professional , in fact an 'Eye Liner for Noobs' book would be quite an apt present for Christmas but I've been loving the look (when I can get them even that is and don't wipe it all off in an angry huff!)

17 Hide Away Concealer Cream in Medium- (Can't seem to find it anywhere-weirdly enough)- This has been my concealer of choice for a couple of months now. It hides blemishes really well without accentuating them like some and I find it works really well even when my skin gets a little drier in the colder weather.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Body Lotion- link- This has definitely been in another favourites. I named it my first Holy Grail item of this here blog here and I'm still loving it six months on. I find that when the winter months roll around, my skin gets noticeably pale and I look ill, like 'had the plague and just about came through the other side' ill. This gives me a bit of a glow without looking like I've piled on the tan. Perfect!

Home Baking candle- This is a bit of a cheat as I can't tell you the brand. I picked this up in Roseby's, a home furnishing store. I've had a little Wikipedia search and they apparently have 300 stores nationwide so if you have one near you, I would definitely recommend you popping in for some amazing candle discounts. I got this giant one (like Yankee Large giant) for £6! It's in this lovely glass jar that looks anything but cheap and the smell is divine! It's a warm vanilla scent, not too synthetic which can be the way with vanilla. My housemate even commented that she could smell it downstairs! That's how much it fills a room. 

Sorry to go on so much about a product you might not be able to find! What have you been loving this month?

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The Weekend post... On a Wednesday

I thought I'd share my lazy Sunday with you today..mid week. Kind of a strange thing to do, but I'm not organised enough to get these sort of posts up on the Sunday or the Monday so here we are!

 

A must do chore for the weekend: brush cleaning. I can't be the only one who finds this job soothing?!

Spent a bit of time in the kitchen this weekend *shock horror*

Home made mocha making! I was going to write a post on this but it's just too easy (yummy none the less!). Throw all the above ingredients into a cup with hot water, splash of milk and you're good to go.

Whipped up a cheesy broccoli bake for a few quick meals in the week. I've got a lot of work on at the minute and knowing that this is here, I can just throw it in the microwave and it's relatively healthy, is good.

Prepared lunch for my loooong Monday. It looks quite boring but all the good stuff is underneath the greenery. Tomato, cucumber, beetroot, mushrooms, peppers, tuna, lettuce and the obligatory (large) dollop of salad cream. Kind of negates the healthiness of it but oh well!

 

Ended my Sunday with EU law and Legally Blonde. Good mix if you ask me! EU and its many treaties, regulations and directives had thoroughly demotivated me so Legally Blonde was a must. I find that this film always makes re-motivates me. We shan't talk about the fact I'm watching it again two days later. I'm lacking in the motivation department at the moment. Any tips?

What did you do this weekend? Were you more proactive than me?

 

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October Favourites!

This post is a little bit later than I'd like but I really wanted to make sure I got a favourites up this month sooo...better late than never right?

So here they are! This month has been a month of rediscoveries (read: nothing that hasn't appeared on the blog before). University is really stepping up its game so I haven't had any free time to be perusing Superdrug (as I like to do on a far more than normal basis).

First is Soap and Glory's Mist You Madly body spray. This is a lovely light, floral spray that I've been spritzing like mad this month! This is down to the fact that I now ride my bike to university and I'm more than a little paranoid that I smell like  a monkey's armpit by the time I get there. That got not-so-nice very quickly!

I'm loving white nails this season. They could be more reserved for the summer months when you have a tan and the contrast looks amazing but I love it all year round. I think it gives such a sophisticated look and with a glitter top coat, oooh Christmassy! I've been using Barry M Matt White for my white nails and it's the best I've found. Applies opaque and not streaky after two coats, which is great as I've tried many a white polish which are milky looking on application. Not ideal!
You may have seen this polish featured recently in THIS post

Real Techniques buffing brush. Need I say more? I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said about this brush but it's been lovely for buffing in my liquid foundation for a really flawless look this month.



Finally it's the lip products! These two are very similar in colour, I obviously have my favourites!
First is Topshop Beatnik lipstick. This lipstick is relatively new to my collection, I picked it up around two weeks ago. Check the dent I've made in it already! It's a dusky pink colour and the feeling it leaves on the lips is....well wow! It is so creamy, I've never felt anything like it!
See full review and swatches HERE

Lastly, is Collection Cream Puff in Cotton Candy. Very similar in colour to the Topshop offering, just a tad pinker. This dries matt but doesn't make your lips look like the moisture has been completely sucked out of them. The feeling on the lips isn't amazing, it makes it hard to rub them together but for the price and the smell, it smells of FLUMP (!!), it's definitely worth it!
See full review and swatches HERE

What products have you been loving this month?

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How I Deep Clean My Brushes

Hey!

Before: Dirty orange tinted brushes

To be quite honest, before I started this blog I had no interest in brushes. Make up went on well with my fingers, in fact I can do one hell of a smoky eye with my hands so why would I buy/need a brush?

However once I started blogging, I found myself lusting over brushes. I did own some brushes, a few Clinique ones from when I had my prom make up done, a few cast offs from my mum, but like I said I had no interest in them.

When my girl friends bought me the Real Techniques Core Collection and Powder brush for my birthday however, I was  thrilled! Now I intend to build up my collection but before that my current ones needed cleaning. Being new to the brush world, I was both apprehensive and scared to even put my brushes near water for fear of ruining them.  Also I had no idea what to wash them with. After some research, I found mild shampoo and hand washes seemed to be the general consensus (if not a proper brush cleaner).

Asda's own Hydrate and Cleanse handwash (the honey one)

This was the only hand wash I had to hand (geddit? ;)) so I decided to use that. Being honey, I hoped that it wouldn't be too harsh on the brushes and the anti bacterial part of it reassured me it would get rid of all the nasty bacteria. I don't believe either of those aspects are a necessity, as long as you aren't using anything too harsh, it should be fine.

I was unable to get pictures of the process I used (balancing a camera with one hand, running water and trying to rinse a brush seemed to be asking for trouble) so I'll do my best to explain it in easy steps.

1. Dampen brush with warm water

2. Pump your cleaner of choice onto the brush

3. Swirl on the palm of your hand to create a lather

4. Repeat if necessary (needed for my buffing brush)

5. Rinse (I found cold water got rid of the foam best)

6. Squeeze out majority of water, reshape and leave to dry (as you can see, mine are on a window sill on a fetching Daisy Duck flannel)

And that's it! Easy peasy! While researching I did see many warnings not to get water on the ferrule (the metal part connecting the bristles to the handle) as it may make your brush moult so be careful of that!

Hope this post was helpful! What do you use to wash your brushes?

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