FOTD

 

Okay so Saturday I got a hair cut, and of course like anyone else I took a selfie to mark the occasion. Now, I'm going to put it to good use for my face of the day post. I don't really know why these posts exist "face of the day"... like what, you're going to change your entire makeup look every day? I don't this so. But as I cant think of another name for this post, i'll go with it.

  So firstly, which products am I using?   Rimmel London lasting finish foundation- 201 classic beige   Rimmel London Kate Moss mascara- 004 Eye Rock Jet Black   Rimmel London (are you spotting a trend here) Stay matte pressed powder- 002 Pink Blossom   Rimmel London lasting finish mono blush- Live Pink   Benefit Brow Zings eyebrow shaping kit- Medium   Benefit bronzer- Dallas   MAC lipstick- Velvet Teddy  

As you probably spotted, Rimmel London products make up the majority of my makeup bag. In my opinion, why spend double if not triple the amount of money on a high end product, when you can get the same result for less? My makeup routine has basically stayed the same since I started properly wearing makeup at the age of 15, with the addition of a MAC lipstick or two along the way. This tends to be my day time look, so I like to keep it quick and simple, always adding a dash of lipstick to mix my look up from time to time...

 

I would love for you to tell me all about your favourite products and makeup routines, so leave me a comment below! :)

 

REVIEW: WONDER'FULL MASCARA

Lets be honest, how difficult is it to find a mascara that is right for you? Very. Personally, I hate plastic brushes and thin brushes with no bristles, I also can't stand gloopy or sticky mascara. So yes, it takes a lot of trial and error to find a mascara that will give you the perfect conmbo of length and volume to your lashes... which is why I wanted to share with you my experiences of the Rimmel London "Wonder 'Full Wake Me Up" mascara.

 

I have been using Rimmel London mascaras for years now, as I find they are definitely the best drugstore supplier of makeup which is not only affordable, but just as effective as any high-end mascara. With promises of conditioned, clump-  free, feather- light lashes, I found the mascara did everything it said, leaving my lashes full, and perfectly smooth.

 

At just £7.99 from Boots, this mascara lasts me around 2 months so is quite a bargain, although I have used Benefit mascaras (best not to get into that sort of addiction), I have found this is an alternative to their Roller Lash mascara, perfect for those of you who want to add volume and a little length.

 

I have been using the cucumber extract version, which really does leave your eyes feeling refreshed, their waterproof version was also excellent. You can find the original here.

 

What do you think? What is your favourite mascara?

PINKADILLY CIRCUS

 RIMMEL LONDON 5 PAN EYESHADOW (PINKADILLY CIRCUS)- £6.99- SUPERDRUG

 

I very, very rarely actually find an eye shadow that genuinely suits me, of course I have read every magazine article, makeup tutorial video and instruction leaflet going about what colours suit what eye shape, skin tone and colour, but I am still not convinced. By rights I should be able to carry off greens and gold...even the smoky eye look, but trust me- I don't.

 

I finally found comfort wearing a Benefit 'leggy' eye shadow which I picked up in an old Benefit makeup palette I received as a Christmas present... a nude pink shimmer eye shadow which completed my every day natural look. However when the time came to replace it, of course Benefit had discontinued it! So I found an almost replica eye shadow which I found in the 'pinkadilly circus' Rimmel London palette- swatch time.

 

By day I tend to combine numbers 2 and 3 - a nude pink and taupe shade to combine and blend into the perfect shade. Using the lighter tone towards my outer and inner lids and the darker shade across my lash line for definition.

 

By night you can added in number 4, a brown/bronze shade to create the smoky eye look without the panda eyes (this always seems to be the end result for me!), number 1 as a highlighter for the inner eye, and you can use number 5 for a pop of colour... I am still yet to attempt this as I fear I may end up with the just punched in the eye look.

 

Have you used this palette before? Have you discovered any good techniques? Also if you could recommend eye shadow colours that may suit me then please leave me a comment below! :)

 

FOTD

I have really been struggling recently to think of blog post ideas, but since I have been trying some new makeup products recently, I thought I would do a face of the day post! A lot of the make up I use is really inexpensive, as I am not a huge believer of spending a lot of money on expensive makeup which just gets used up within a few months! The only pricey products in this post come from the Benefit celebutante pallete, the benefit brow zings eyebrow pallete, and the MAC cremesheen lipstick, the rest is mostly Rimmel London. As it is spring time, I think it's time to alter my daily makeup and start using some pinker, lighter shades of lipsticks, primers, highlighters and a little bronzer! Here are the products featured in my look...

RIMMEL LONDON LASTING FINISH FOUNDATION 201, £7.99, Boots

This will always be my favourite foundation, it works just as well as a high end foundation, it stays put all day, it's heat/sweat resistant, transfer resistant and it really does what it says it will, it gives you 25 hour coverage. All of that for just £7.99! This is quite a popular foundation and I have been using it for years now!

NYC 649 PROSPECT PARK ROSE CHEEK GLOW, £2.99, Superdrug

Cheap and cheerful. I love this blusher because I found it's the perfect shade for me, it has a shimmery tint to it so it also acts as a highlighter for your cheeks!

RIMMEL LONDON STAY MATTE POWDER 003 PEACH GLOW, £3.99 Boots

Again, this Rimmel product is very popular. It is so hard to find a good powder but I always find that this one works wonderfully, it gives a light covering and sets your make up so well!

RIMMEL LONDON WONDERFULL MASCARA- £7.99- BOOTS

I never ever usually go for plastic brushes as I never find that they actually volumise my lashes, but with this brush I feel like it gives the best of both worlds, length and volume! Although I usually opt for Scandeleyes, I will definitely be buying more of this mascara! 

BENEFIT BROWZINGS, £24.50, Boots

I have only ever used one brow product, but this one has last me years! I only ever add just a little colouring to my brows so this powder and gel like duo work perfectly for adding a touch of colour and setting with the tinted gel.

LEGGY AND DANDY BRANDY BENEFIT VELVET EYEHSHADOW, (part of celebutante set)

I love to combine these colours, applying the shimmery pale 'leggy' shadow all over the eye lid and then adding a touch of 'dandy brandy' to the outer lids and blending. A very neutral but beautiful look!

BENEFIT DALLAS FACE POWDER, (part of celebutante set)

This bronzer is so amazing, benefit have so many different bronzers which are all lovely. I particularly love this one as it isn't too dark but it also adds a lovely shimmer. A great bronzer if you're just getting started with bronzing and contouring.

CREMESHEEN CREMECUP MAC LIPSTICK- £15

This has been my favourite lipstick for so long, it adds a lovely pinky colour to your lips and is so soft and nourishing. The cremesheen lipsticks are a definite favourite of mine!

SLEEK LIP CONDITIONER (POUT POLISH)- £4.49- BOOTS

I always apply this before wearing any lipstick, as it ensures your lips are conditioned and ready for you to smoothly apply your lipstick, you can also use this balm on its own as it is tinted with a pinky/nude tone.

What do you think of my face of the day look? What are your favourite makeup products at the moment? Leave me a comment below! :) 

FOTD| My Everyday makeup

I haven't done one of these posts in quite a while, so I thought I would share with you a little post about my everyday makeup routine! Recently I have been becoming more bothered about how I look after my skin and I am keen to try new makeup products (I have so many reviews coming up soon), as before I felt like I was stuck in a makeup routine rut. Honestly, I used the same foundation since I was 14 and I had never even tried bronzer, now I'm trying out a range of cleansers and toners, I attempt to contour, I now actually use eye shadows, and I even bought my first primer yesterday! Anyway, here is the list of products I use, half of my makeup actually originates from an old Benefit 'Celebutante' makeup set which I got for Christmas one year, yet it is absolutely perfect for playing around with new products, and then I can go and buy the full size versions! The rest of my makeup also tends to be by Rimmel  London, I just love how high quality it is, yet so affordable! 

RIMMEL LONDON LASTING FINISH FOUNDATION 201, £7.99, Boots

This has always been my go to foundation, it provides full coverage and is skin perfecting. I completely stand by its 25 hour claims, as for all the years I have been using this product, it is genuinely transfer proof, sweat resistant and lasts all day, unless your sat out in 30 degree heat of course. I use either shade 200 or 201 classic beige, and I have never even had the urge to splurge on a £27 ish high-end foundation as this works just as well, for a fraction of the price.

SCANDALEYES RIMMEL LONDON MASCARA, £4.99, Boots

It may not be high end, but it's amazing, the amount of compliments my eyelashes get is ridiculous, all for just £4.99! There are many versions of this mascara depending on the effect you want to achieve, but I find this 'rockin' curves' version has a curved brush and is perfect for reaching your inner lashes, plus adding length and volume.

NYC 649 PROSPECT PARK ROSE CHEEK GLOW, £2.99, Superdrug

I always find it ridiculously hard to find a good blusher, they are either disgustingly matte and dark or over the top shimmery, this one has the best of both worlds. This powder blush is highly effective at adding some colour and a little shimmer that adds a little highlight to your cheeks as well, perfect!

RIMMEL LONDON STAY MATTE POWDER 003 PEACH GLOW, £3.99 Boots

This powder is one of the most popular choices for powder, it's lightweight touch, shine control and pore minimising effects make this a great choice for setting your foundation or simply for touch ups throughout the day.

BENEFIT THE PORE FESSIONAL, (part of full glam ahead set) £9.99 Boots

At the moment I only have the miniature version to try out, however I am definitely planning on buying the full size version! The product effectively reduces the appearance of pores, leaves your skin feeling extra soft and makes the application of foundation smoother than ever.

BENEFIT BROWZINGS, £24.50, Boots

This pallette combines a powder eye brow filler with a gel like setting product for your eyebrows, despite the high price, I can honestly say this product is great for preening, styling and defining your brows perfectly.

BENEFIT HIGH BEAM HIGHLIGHTER, (part of full glam ahead set) £9.99 Boots

Again I have only recently started using this product but I am very pleased with the results, I apply on top of my foundation and blend across my cheek bones, to my Cupid's bow, and along the top of my nose to ensure a highlighting effect to certain areas.

LEGGY AND DANDY BRANDY BENEFIT VELVET EYEHSHADOW, (part of celebutante set)

These two shadows combined create a neutral and everyday look for the eyes, I apply the shimmery Leggy velvet shadow all over the lid and the the brown Dandy Brandy shadow to the outer eyelid and blend together, which creates a beautiful neutral smoky eye, the product stays put all day and doesn't get caught in the creases of your eye lids.

BENEFIT DALLAS FACE POWDER, (part of celebutante set)

I absolutely cannot wait to buy the full size version of this bronzer, I absolutely love it! I usually find that sometimes bronzers can be too dark, however this one is perfect for adding a little colour and definition to the cheekbones.

THE BODY SHOP FROSTED CRANBERRY LIP BALM, £4.00 The Body a Shop

This product is not featured in the images above but I absolutely love this lip balm because not only does it smell divine, like all Body Shop products, but it also moisturises your lips leaving them soft and supple even in the cold winter months. It also adds a little colour to the lips which is beautiful, for only £4 this is 100% my number one handbag essential.

As you can see, besides using a range of Benefit products at the moment, my daily makeup routine is highly inexpensive, infact my entire routine comes to just around £20, which tends to last me around 4 months, bargain! I would love to know about your daily makeup routine, what are your everyday products? Leave me a comment below! :) 

FOTD

  #Busstandselfie- Rimmel scandal'eyes waterproof mascara, £6.99, Superdrug| Clinque high impact mascara, (magazine tester)| Rimmel London 25 hour lasting finish foundation 201, £4.98, Savers| Rimmel London stay matte powder 002, £3.98, Savers| NYC cheek glow central park pink, £2.99, Superdrug| Benefit Browzings medium, £24.50, Boots| No7 high shine lip crayon delicate pink, £9.00, Boots.

Okay I wasn't joking with my "#busstandselfie" I was genuinely sat at the bus stop with my boyfriend waiting to go into town to Nandos haha! But anyway as it was date night I thought I would make an effort as I don't really get to see him that much right now. This is my usual sort or day-to-day makeup, it's quick and simple and I am not joking I haven't changed my routine or products that I use all that much in the past 4 years, I don't care what anyone says, if it ain't broke don't fix it!

I tend to keep my makeup routine simple to save time on a morning, although I have just recently started applying my foundation with a brush... I am very proud, I didn't realise how much better it would be rather than using my finger tips! I tend to use mainly Rimmel London products, as although over time my foundation has been discontinued, then changed a little, I do think this lasting finish foundation gives great coverage and it genuinely does last all day unless you're running a marathon or something!

My mascara is also Rimmel, I tend to mix and match with the scandal'eyes range but I bought this waterproof one for going on holiday, it stayed on really well in the pool. I have combined it with the Clinique mascara as I got this one as a free gift in a magazine and found it is amazing I have never known a mascara work so well  although I just could not afford to be buying this all the time.  I do however use Benefit browzings for my brows, as the powder like product is great for defining your brows and the gel counterpart is fab for setting your brows and tidying them up! Plus, I didn't actually have to pay for this, as my friend kindly gave me hers!

The blusher I use is a steal at just £2.99 and has lasted me 5 months now, despite being nearly gone now. I am not a fan of bronzers as I am always a little bit scared of it being patchy or too dark and in the wrong places, so I tend to use a bright blusher on my cheeks instead. As for contouring, I daren't even attempt it. The stay matte power is also only £3.98 depending on where you buy it, but as a simple powder to pop in your bag it is great for buffing away any oily patches during the day.

Finally, I completed my look with my new chubby stick! I think if you're a little wary of how bold your lipstick may come out once you apply it, chubby sticks are great for adding just a little colour and some gloss at the same time, mine is No7 shade "delicate pink" which gives a nice touch to finish your make up!

What do you think of my look? What makeup products are you using? Leave me a comment below :).  

FOTD| Daily Routine

This is my first face of the day post, and I must admit that I am pretty nervous about revealing pictures of myself without makeup for all to see, but I guess we can't look our best all the time! This is in fact the pictures from my day at London Fashion Week, but it only occurred to me now that seen as I did an outfit of the day post for that, I might as well try FOTD too. Anyway, this look tends to be my daily make up routine, as it is quick, simple and easy to achieve in 10-15 minutes, I must confess however that although I alternate the products I use from time to time, this has actually been my makeup routine for the past few years, ah well. So once I have exfoliated and cleansed my skin, I then begin applying my makeup, personally, I am not really into using primers and toners for day to day makeup and I am also not a fan of using several different brushes for application and really like to keep it simple, only using my finger tips, powder and face brush. I start by using two foundations and using mostly the 'classic beige 201' and mixing in a tiny bit of 'natural beige 400' to darken the colour a little, without being too orange! I really like the 25 hour foundation as although in my opinion it most certainly does not stay on that long, it does remain on for most of the day, is light on the skin and effectively disguises spots and blemishes. Then I set my foundation using '002 pink blossom' powder, I also use this throughout the day to avoid shiny skin, again the product is very light to wear. I then use scandaleyes lycra flex mascara, as my eyelashes are pretty long naturally, I prefer volume enhancing mascaras, the thickness of this brush means its perfect for me. After this I apply '050 live pink' blusher, although this is quite a vibrant shade of pink, I think by applying just a little of it works very well, use with caution though, nobody wants bright pink cheeks! To finish my look I finally apply either some lip balm (nivia/ eos/ Vaseline) or lipstick, at the moment I am particularly into MAC cremesheen crème cup, a lovely light pink colour. What products do you use daily? :)

Make-up used (all Rimmel London) :
- 201 classic beige- 25 hour lasting finish foundation- £4.99- Bodycare
- 400 natural beige- 25 hour lasting finish foundation- £4.99- Bodycare
- 002 pink blossom- stay matte powder- £3.99- Boots
- 050 live pink- blusher- £3.99- Boots
- Cremesheen crème cup lipstick- £15- MAC

Today's buys!

I was soooo busy with exams before Christmas, and since Christmas I haven't really had the chance to go shopping, so today was the first time I had been in so long! I was is desperate need of some new makeup because I was literally scraping the bottles, and once I had revamped my makeup bag, I thought I would have a little look at the sales! Although some stores such as ASDA, TESCO & Savers have now removed the Rimmel London offer of "everything under £5" (the foundation I use is £7.99) I managed to find that Boots surprisingly were still using this offer! Although I usually really dislike sales shopping as I can never find anything I actually want, I have found the best sale is at Topshop, there are so many bargains in there, and it isn't all crap nobody wants! aha, I managed to pick up a jumper and a top from there, and found Dorothy Perkins had a particularly good jewellery sale, so you should definitely have a look! Below are the little bits and bobs I picked up, have you picked up a particularly good bargain from the January sales? Are you a sales lover or a sales hater? :)

Rimmel London lasting finish foundation- Shade 400 Natural beige- £4.99- Boots

Rimmel London lasting finish foundation- Shade 201- Classic beige- £4.99-Boots

Rimmel London Scandaleyes lycra flex mascara- £4.99- Boots

Rimmel London Stay Matte pressed powder- Shade 002 pink blossom- £3.99- Boots

Gold star necklace- WAS £6 NOW £3- Dorothy Perkins

Midi rings- WAS £5 NOW £3- Dorothy Perkins

Thin strap purple jersey top- WAS £10 NOW £5- Topshop

Pink ribbed crop jumper- WAS £34 NOW £20- Topshop

70 Denier tights- £2.99- New Look

80 Denier tights- £4.99- New Look

100 Denier tights- £4.99- New Look